Over the weekend, Prince Rupert Secondary School and Charles Hays Secondary School hosted the Northwest high school drama festival at the Lester Performing Arts Centre that had around 150 youth from seven schools around the region putting on thirteen different productions competing for Provincials.
Amber-Kelly Mackereth was the adjudicator over the weekend; ultimately deciding who would make it to Provincials. Mackereth has been a performing actress since a young age, and has credits including her work in “Chicago” the Oscar-winning movie, playing Charity in “Sweet Charity”, as well as co-writing, choreographing and teaching.
PRSS came out on top this year earning themselves the winning Provincial spot with their production of “Wake-up Call” by Stephen Gregg, a play about teenager Jim (played by Gregory Miller) who has some troubles distinguishing reality from his dreams. Jim keeps jumping back and forth between his girlfriend Rochelle’s (played by Angelica Jesser) bedroom, where she is trying to convince him to help her poison her father (played by Josh Tooke, who was awarded with best male supporting actor for his performance) and his own bedroom, where he’s experience some odd behavior from his mother (played by Caitlund Catherall, who received the award for best female actor in a main role) who keeps trying to seduce him, and his own personal chorus (consisting of Rhianna Rimmer, Andrea Apollos and Shanna Repole).
PRSS grade twelve student Matthew Wigmore was the director of the winning play, and says he was honored and shocked at the same time when he found out “Wake-up Call” would be moving on to Provincials. Wigmore is well known for his acting around the community, starring in many of PRSS’s productions, but “Wake-up Call” was Wigmore’s first time directing a play.
“I’m really proud of the cast and really honored that we get to go to Provincials. There was such great competition.” Wigmore started, adding, “It’s a great way to end PRSS’s drama program.”
Mount Elizabeth Secondary School put on the runner-up production with “Warrior Variation” written and directed by Linda Horianopulos. “Warrior Variation” also won an award for best supporting female role by Kaitlyn Hartmann.
Other Prince Rupert plays showcased over the weekend included CHSS’s production of “Hairball” directed by Mr. Elliot Fox-Povey, and PRSS’s “Writers Block” written by student Jessica Feser and directed by Alison O’Toole, which won an award for the best physical comedy.