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By JESSICA
CIPARELLI Staff Writer
ELLINGTON — Every actor has to learn their lines perfectly, but in Ellington, not only do they have to know
their lines, they have to know their lines with an English accent. To perfect the accent, students taking part in “Charley’s
Aunt” speak to one another – even when they aren’t practicing their lines – with the English accent.
“It was difficult,
but we are doing all sorts of training [exercises],” said Dan Goldthwaite, a senior who is playing the part of Lord Fancourt Babberly (aka, “Babbs”). The
training included everything from speaking to one another with the accent, to being critiqued by an Ellington resident who
is from England.
And,
the accent isn’t the only thing being critiqued. The farce “Charley’s Aunt,” written by Brandon Thomas,
is not an ordinary show being put on by the Opening Knight Players – it is English/drama teacher William Prenetta’s thesis project for his master’s
in directing.
“The
thesis is directing the show,” Prenetta said. “I’m thinking of this as directing any other play,”
he said, putting in the same amount of time as any other play. Not only does he have to direct, but the set design, costume
design, lighting and sound will all be critiqued by his professor, Jerry Proffitt, director of the Fast-Track Master’s
Program of directing at Roosevelt University in the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Is he nervous about being critiqued?
“I think I will
be the day it’s graded,” he said. “Yeah, I’m nervous a little bit. I’ve never directed a farce
before.”
The story
is about three friends at Oxford College in 1892. Two of the friends, Jack Chesney (senior Jesse Mack) and Charley Wyckham
(freshman Christian Schiarra) want to propose to two young ladies, Amy Spettigue (senior Brooke Porter) and Kitty Verdun (junior Alyssa Purnhagen), but the group needs a chaperone.
Charley’s aunt, Donna Lucia, played by junior Michelle Gluhosky, was expected for a visit, however, she is detained
and cannot make it. They convince their friend “Babbs” (Goldthwaite) to dress up as the aunt and serve as a chaperone.
Goldthwaite said the
acting for this part was challenging.
“It’s
very tough because it has to be acted poorly, because he [Babbs] isn’t a
very good actor,”
he said. “Which should be easy, but it’s not. It’s like teaching a pilot to crash.”
Another challenge for Goldthwaite –
his own brother Kevin plays the part of Sir Francis Chesney, Jack’s father, who attempts to marry “Charley’s
aunt.”
“That
was a little awkward at first,” Dan admitted, but they are both getting over the awkwardness, he said.
This is one of the smallest casts Prenetta
has worked with – a cast of 10 – four women, six men. In the past, Prenetta has directed casts of 30-40 students.
The shows run May 11,
12, and 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Ellington High School’s Gordon C. Getchell Auditorium. Tickets are $7 each, and can be purchased
at the door.
Proffitt,
and Rob Ruggierro from Theaterworks in Hartford, will be at the Saturday evening show. Ruggierro will serve as the peer critique.
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