Behind the Curtains: Hard At Work On BHS Fall Play

By Vesa Bejleri and Zara Serrano

Lights, camera aaand action! The beauty of acting has shined a light at BHS, as Mrs. Ogren and Mrs. Ryan prepare for this year’s fall play along with the amazing cast and crew and, believe it or not, Mr. Gruendel and Mr. Briganti in the role of Nazi Officers.

This year’s show, The White Rose, is a tale of courage, loss, love, and triumph through the malevolent forces of evil. It is based on the true, tragic story of Sophie Scholl, a young girl along with her brother, and many others who endure the hardships of living in 1940’s Germany and their peaceful rebellion against censorship, and standing up to wrongdoings.

The group has been preparing since the beginning of the school year – rehearsing, building the set, and bringing the story to life. They are also still accepting new members for stage crew and ensemble. But while many seem to consider the process quite simple, it’s what is happening behind the scenes that is just as important.

“It’s the little details,” said Senior Lillian Rank, who plays the lead role of Sophie Scholl. From the hair, makeup, clothing, lighting and scenery to the small touches, subtle smiles and quick glances are all precariously placed so that the audience is enveloped in the story.”

Lillian’s grandmother, Nettie Rank, does the costuming for the characters. She accounts for every little detail from the collars of the shirts, to the message the colors of the clothes indicate for each character.

“People don’t realize that they take the little details into heavy consideration when watching a show. Even with the acting, you determine that a couple is close by the small, comfortable touches that they share when no one is looking, or know when someone is hurt by the way they look heartbroken while another turns away,” Rank said. “It’s a hard thing to convey, but when you nail it, it elevates the viewing experience ten fold.”

Beyond the acting and preparing, bonding is also a very important part of being in a cast and crew. First-time seniors like Samantha Trudeau (Gisela), said they’ve enjoyed the community and the process and wished they had joined sooner. Lillian, on the other hand, shares how she tries to do as much cast bonding as she can, especially since this is her last year.

“I remember how good it felt to be included and helped by the upperclassmen when I was a freshman and I want to create that environment as well. And at this point in the process, we laugh more than we rehearse,” she said.

And it seems to be working, as Joe Schettino, a 9th grader in the role of Johann Bader reports:“In my first year I feel so welcomed into the community and it is a safe space to be vulnerable.”

While team bonding is crucial for the greater good, “character-development” is also quite as important when getting ready to perform on stage. Knowing and finding ways to relate to your character is a process every actor has to go through during the first few rehearsals. Some might find their characters to be quite similar to them, saying that they relate to their morals and their personalities. While others, like Jackson Nichols, share that they don’t quite portray similar characteristics with their role.

“I think it’s hilarious how different my character (Willi) is to me,” Nichols said. “He is a timid, yet active person as I am the opposite. I enjoy playing that character, though it can be challenging at times.”

And, as with any performance, the overarching goal is presenting the audience with a thought provoking message. The one that comes along with this play is such a powerful one that it quite honestly needs more than a two sentence paragraph to get across. Although for the sake of the article, we can try…

“What I hope that people take away from the show is, first, to learn about The White Rose and how young people peacefully rebelled against such a powerful evil using something as simple as pamphlets and mail,” said Mrs. Ogren, who has directed the fall play for dozens of years. “Secondly, understanding the issue of the lack of free expression and freedom. And lastly, how influential it is to stand up against the wrong and find the moment that needed people to be educated.”

Acting; from learning lines and dressing up, to, as Lillian Rank puts it, “ feeling the heat from the lights on your skin, knowing you’re all dolled up and just being able to let go and show off what you’ve been working tirelessly on for months,” to finding new friends and sharing themes, it is a truly remarkable experience.

The show dates for The White Rose are November 19, 20, 22 – don’t miss it! Come to watch the story, and read a pamphlet with us about what is right, and what is wrong.

Editors note: Buzz reporters Vesa and Zara (pictured below) are members of the cast of this year's fall play. They want to give a quick shout-out to the seniors since this is their last show: we truly appreciate all the hard work and positive energy you contribute to the show, it really brings the production together and we thank you for being there for us.