Lampman School hosted their community on Tuesday, April 12, and Wednesday, April 13, to enjoy their annual drama productions which they took to compete at the Region One Drama Festival in Redvers Thrusday, April 14, to Saturday, April 16.
Bake-off
The drama club performed their take on the play, “Bake-Off” by Sheri Wilner. The two main roles were played by Adrianna Raynard who played Rita and Carter Branyik-Thornton who played Paul. Supporting characters included Donavon Andrews as The Pillsbury Doughboy and Cassidy Roy as Mrs. Betty McBride.
The production was supported by extensive work behind the scenes with teacher/director Christine Branyik-Thornton, stage manager/lighting Darian Freeden, assistant stage manager/follow spot Hayley Dechaine, sound Design/operator K’Lyn Duttenhoffer, costume manager Taylor Grimes, props/backstage manager Hannah Stinson, assistant backstage manager Desiree Kautz, props/sets Theatre 20 students, make-up Kaitlin Stephens, table skirt construction Marilyn Zimmerman, Doughboy head built by Ashley Kerslake.
The play focuses on Rita and Paul, contestants in a bake-off. Paul has accidentally taken both contestants’ supplies to his table, which leaves for a very poor first impression with Rita who angers quickly at him.
Once the two comically sort through their items they head to their tables for the beginning of the bake-off, which has a special guest, Mrs. Betty McBride, in the audience.
Throughout the play gender stereotypes are addressed, with Rita questioning why men are choosing to enter the contest stating that most male chefs go on to own a fancy restaurant, while women are the ones who do the everyday cooking for their family. As Rita becomes more and more agitated by competing against men in what she considers a more feminine activity, Paul attempts to explain that he’s trying to set a good example for his son. In fact he wants to teach his 13-year-old son that there’s nothing wrong with men cooking and to always be true to himself.
Eventually Rita gets into a confrontation with the mascot of the bake-off, The Pillsbury Doughboy, which brings laughter as Rita pokes him with a rolling pin then kisses the Doughboy passionately as she deals with her feelings regarding the competition. When the Doughboy takes off his mascot head, he wishes that Paul will win the contest, which sends Rita into an even bigger emotional spiral.
As the play concludes Paul comforts a distraught Rita.
With serious tones, but laughable moments the performance had the audience’s full attention.
13 Signs You Should Stop Being a Pirate
The next performance the drama club performed was “13 Signs You should Stop Being a Pirate” by A.M. Dittman.
Originally supposed to be performed on the Tuesday as well the group had technical difficulties, which had it postponed until the Wednesday.
“The sound crashed 30 seconds into our opening night performance,” Christine Branyik-Thornton explained. “After a battle to resuscitate it, we had to call the show. An actor and tech nightmare. The audience was so gracious and understanding – thank you. My team pulled up their boot straps, dug in and rebuilt the shows, cue by cue, setting up multiple computer stations and working ‘til nearly midnight ‘til it was done, better than the original. This is real learning. The real thing. I am amazed and grateful for my students more than I ever imagined could be. Actors and techies alike.”
The performance was then held the next night with free admission and the drama club was relieved that the issue occurred at a time they were able to recover from the technical difficulty as opposed to during festival.
The Wednesday night performance was again well attended by the community, all extremely pleased to have made the journey back as many laughs were had during the performance.
During the performance of “13 Signs You Should Stop Being a Pirate” Jaime played by Cassidy Roy questioned why anyone would want to be a pirate. From wondering what is so great about the sea to the excess greed and sword fighting to the limited pets available to the final reason not to be a pirate, death.
At each turn, Jaime’s questioning attitude was countered by the Pirate Narrator, various pirates, and the rest of the crew. The Pirate Narrator was portrayed by Adrianna Raynard, while various speaking pirates included Carter Branyik-Thornton who was channeling Captain Jack Sparrow of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Donavon Andrews, Kaya Furey, Alexis Christensen, and Devyn Smyth. The rest of the pirate crew was played by Brandon Miller, Isaiah Smith, Colton Schell, and London Vinck.
Hilarity ensued throughout the play as Jaime questioned the status quo, introducing new ideas for a pirate flag (a unicorn with wings flying over a rainbow or maybe a kitty), and a discussion about whether a fellow pirate was in love with a mermaid or a manatee.
In the end the group decided on an original ending. In the play following the death of Jaime who comes back as a ghost, the play simply ends. Using their creativity, Lampman drama decided to add a comic, yet tragic ending to the play. As Jaime’s ghost comes back to haunt the ship, death being a clear sign you should stop being a pirate, the pirates become uneasy and attempts to run Jaime’s ghost through with their swords. The pirates didn’t think through the etherealness of the ghost and in the end falling backwards, all dying, as they clutch at sword wounds.
The performance could not have been made possible without those behind the scenes including teacher/director Christine Branyik-Thornton, stage manager/lighting Darian Freeden, assistant stage manager/follow spot Hayley Dechaine, sound design/operator K’Lyn Duttenhoffer, costume manager Taylor Grimes, props/backstage manager Hannah Stinson, assistant backstage manager Desiree Kautz, props/set Theatre 20 and Arts Education classes, make-up Kaitlin Stephens, set/sword construction Stan Zimmerman, and seamstress Marilyn Zimmerman.
Region One Festival
The students took these plays to festival and did very well, earning multiple awards including the best Visual Production at Festival for “13 Signs You should Stop Being a Pirate.” Lampman drama received Best Stage Manager which went to Darian Freeden. The Bob Hinnett Best Technical Student of Festival Runner up was earned by K'Lyn Duttenhoffer, a Technical Excellence Medal was received by Ashley Kerslake for the Doughboy head construction, and Technical Merit Awards went to Taylor Grimes (costume), Hannah Stinson (props and backstage manager), and Hayley Dechaine (stage management and follow spot).
The Souris Valley Theatre Best Character Actor of the Festival went to Carter Branyik-Thornton, while acting merit awards were received by Cassidy Roy, Adrianna Raynard, and Donavon Andrews. The unsung Hero award was given to two deserving students: Hayley Dechaine and Ashley Kerslake.
