‘Out of Order’ cast struggles with changes, including Theatre Fest

Arts & Entertainment — By admin on September 25, 2009 12:00 pm

By Mallorie Bromer, Asst. Feature Editor

This year’s fall play “Out of Order” had its start with copyright problems and pressures from the people from Theatre Fest.

Set in England, “Out of Order” focuses on Richard Willey, played by John Remaly, senior. Willey, a parliament member, plans to have an affair with Jane Worthington, played by Brenna Merrill, junior, at an upscale hotel. When they get to the room, they find a dead body, played by Nick Caputo, sophomore. The rest of the show describes what happens to Willey and his secretary George Pigden, played by Jon Tracey, senior.

When rehearsals started, Orin Xavier, director and English teacher, wanted to change the setting from England to the United States, and Willey’s title as parliament member to that of Joe Biden’s, Vice President, assistant. He also wanted to change the jokes regarding the Prime Minister to jokes about Obama, President, and health care. Finally, he wanted to switch the setting of Westminster Hotel to the Hilton.

“It’s funny. It’s a comedy… We had all of these American jokes,” Merrill said.

When Mr. Xavier applied for the rights for the play, he had to state the changes he wanted to make, yet he didn’t get them approved. The publishing company shot down these ideas, e-mailing Mr. Xavier that no changes could be made.

“There are some shows that do not mind changes being made to their productions, but there are other shows that are pretty strict,” Mr. Xavier said.

Despite the challenge of changing the play back to the original, this year’s fall play is being considered to perform at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival. ISU will host this year’s Theatre Fest on Jan. 7 through Jan. 9, 2010, and will be attended by approximately 25 high schools from around Illinois. The Theatre Fest provides opportunities for master classes and viewing performances of other high schools.

“We would be one of the shows that people from all over Illinois would be watching,” Merrill said.

At one of the performances, an adjudication, a panel of two or three different high school teachers, will come and critique the show, talk to the cast about what they did and did not do throughout the performance, They also make recommendations for shows to be performed at the All State Production.

“Just because a show’s not chosen, doesn’t mean it’s not good,” Mr. Xavier said.

The cast rehearses every day after school, and the cast members that attend vary as different scenes are practiced on different days.

“There’re only 10 people in the play, and it’s truly a family,” Harlan Rosen, freshman and cast member, said.

The performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. Oct. 8 and Friday. Oct. 9 and at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Oct. 10 in the theater.

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Tags: Brenna Merrill, Harlan Rosen, ISU, John Remaly, Jon Tracey, Orin Xavier, Out of Order, play, Theatre Fest