This week, GHS Theater Program brings their production of the popular children’s fantasy tale James and the Giant Peach to life.
The story has taken on many forms, originating as a book written by famous British children’s author, Roald Dahl. In the late nineties it was adapted into a family movie and will now hit Gloucester High School’s stage as a musical. The cast and crew, composed of students from all grade levels, have been working nonstop since January to build the massive sets, choreograph elaborate dances, and sing their hearts out throughout the spring musical.
The show follows James (Meghan Buckley), a young boy sent to live with his conniving aunts (Anaya Briguglio, Esme Sarrouf) after losing his parents in a tragic accident. When sent to chop down their old fruit tree, James discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach, and launches a journey of gigantic proportions. Suddenly, James finds himself in the center of a gigantic peach, among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities, but after it falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the team has to work together to survive the rough journey across the sea to New York.
The show features a talented cast of actors, for most of whom drama has been an important part of their whole lives. For the past three months, the cast and crew has stayed after school almost every day of the week and completed all the work themselves.
“The program at the high school is really student led.” Jessica Ruggles, head of the drama department said. “We have student stage managers who help take attendance and take notes at rehearsal. We have a student choreographer who comes up with the dances and teaches them to the rest of the cast. We also have student hair and makeup and set design.”
On top of this multiple students have taken on both acting and behind the scenes roles, such as Junior Kassidy Klopotoski, who is the lead set designer on top of one of the main roles as an insect.
“I enjoy acting because I’m able to create a world that’s not my own and being able to assume a character that I can play around with that’s not me and have fun with it.” Klopotoski said. “But I also really like tech because it challenges the technical aspects of my brain and allows me to be creative while also using the skills that I like such as math and design.”
“James and the Giant Peach” will be showing at GHS Thursday the 10th at 7:00 p.m., Friday the 11th at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday the 12th at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. At the door, the price will be $10 for students and senior citizens and $15 for general admission.
“I am really proud of this group.” Ruggles said. “They have really embraced the whimsy and the themes of the story.”
IF YOU GO:
What: “James and the Giant Peach”
When: Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th, at 7:00 pm.
Saturday April 12th at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Where: Gloucester High School Auditorium
How Much: $15 general admission / $10 for students, staff, and senior citizens
Tickets are also sold on the Drama Club website for a discount: gloucesterhighdrama.blogspot.com
