March 16, 2006 at 8:32 a.m.
CLMS puts fun spin on classic tale
CLMS puts fun spin on classic tale
A talented cast and crew of sixth, seventh and eighth graders put together a wonderfully funny and light production when they held two performances of Twinderella the Musical at the Chisago Lakes High School Performing Arts Center March 9.
Director Sally Lundholm put together a midday performance for parents, grandparents and CLMS students, as well as an evening performance that night.
The play opens with narrator Claire Habel reading the story of Twinderella to a group of pajama-clad children. At first, the tale seems to read like Cinderella, until we see both Cinderella, played by Lisa Spehar and her twin brother, Bob, played by Josh Linman.
The two were separated at birth and adopted. Cinderella went to live with her cruel stepmother, played by Emily Goranson and stepsisters Esmerelda, played by Brooke Ford and Ethel, played by Delaney Babich. Bob lives with his evil stepfather, played by Josh Salaba and stepbrothers Eggbert, played by Chase Kammerer, and Mortimer, played by Jesse Hoffman.
Cinderella laments about having so much work to do, saying she’d rather be surfing the Internet. Bob’s stepfather constantly berades Bob for calling him his cruel stepfather, saying, “How many times do I have to tell you, I’m evil?”
What Bob wants to do is play baseball. Instead, Cinderella and Bob are forced to do all the chores, while their stepfamilies are busy getting ready for a dance and baseball game at Wychwood-under-Ooze.
As Cinderella wishes she could attend the dance, her fairy godmother appears, played by Aubrey Lawlor. The godmother says she can turn some pets into horses and a vegetable into a coach, if Cinderella has any pets. Enter the stepsisters’ pet gerbils – Shirley, played by Mary Cross and Lola, played by Abby Collins.
As the godmother is getting prepared to send Cinderella to the dance, Bob also has help getting ready to play in the royal baseball game.
Before we see him on stage, Bob’s godfather is reluctant to play the fairy role like the godmother. A pair of wings is flung on stage and we hear, “I’m not wearin’ the wings!”
Bob’s godfather, played by Vince Virga, is a wise-cracking, no nonsense figure dressed in a suit and hat, with an attitude resembling a gangster. He tells Bob he can get him a baseball uniform and spikes so he can also play in the royal game.
The two heroes attend the royal events and meet Princess Petunia, played by Kyra Wacholz, and Prince Percy, played by Alex Wolkenhauer.
Cinderella dances and falls in love with Percy as Petunia becomes smitten with Bob. All four then play in the ball game, where Cinderella delivers the game-winning hit as the clock strikes midnight, and both she and Bob are forced to hurry away. A glass slipper and black baseball spike are the only things left behind.
Percy and Petunia search the kingdom for the owners of the shoes, but come up empty-handed until Cinderella and Bob arrive at the castle. The shoes fit and they are reunited with Percy and Petunia, much to the delight of King Roger, played by Kristen Gulbranson and Queen Betty, played by Kelly Gustafson.
Throughout it all, Old Matilda, played by Lauren Althaus, is desparately trying to share a secret she has held for many years. She is constantly dismissed, as various characters tell her that everyone knows the old lady with the deep, dark secret is supposed to reveal it in the last scene.
Finally, as the cast gathers to end the play, she is able to tell them what she knows. She was a nurse in the home where Cinderella and Bob were born and they are in fact twins, separated at birth. Everyone rejoices at the news and the true love that has found Cinderella and Percy, Petunia and Bob.
The musical contains several catchy fun songs, including “Cinderella Do This, Bob Do That,” a duet by Spehar and Linman, and the fun “Stoke of Twelve” by Lawlor, Virga and the Doo Wop Singers- Karen Holt, Mariah Peltier, Katie Johnson, Natasha Johnson and Katie Johnson.
The cast exhibited professionalism beyond their years, even when the afternoon performance was interrupted by a surprise fire drill. Unfortunately, the delay forced the middle school audience to leave before watching the final scene of the play, but the performers happily went on to finish the play for the 30 or so parents, grandparents and siblings left in the PAC.
Twinderella the Musical showcased many extremely talented actors and singers who will surely make future middle school and high school plays very memorable.
Other cast members included: Betsy- Christa Brunnette, Sally- Michelle Haslach, Tammy- Amanda Bean, Susie- Kailee Carlson, narrator #2- Kelsie Zollinger, Lou, the UPS Girl- Heather Underland, Vinnie- Leah Bentfield, Nicki- Brooke Faste, Duke of Earl- Linda Jindra, Duchess of Earl- Anna Peterson, Countess of Duke- Clara Linehan, Sportscaster- Molly Prahl, Ladies of the Court- Jaclyn Erdman, Taylor Delzer, Kayla Gibson and Mesa LaValley.
Crew included: production assistant- Lynette Kutzke, stage managers- Lauren Althaus and Mesa LaValley, costume manager- Mariah Peltier, publicity manager- Claire Habel and props coordinators- Mary Cross, Karen Holt and Taylor Delzer, stage set design- Christa Brunnette, Abby Carlson, Heather Carlson, Hanna Hobson, Sarah Hartman, Joy Heyers, Jasmine Jordan, Clara Linehan, Andrew Miron, Jessica Nekowich, Marissa Peterson, Erica Root, Aria Soland, Tia Torgerson, Kyra Wacholz and Christine Zvonar.
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