It was an evening of side-splitting laughter with the Stoughton Drama Club performing “Wanted: One Groom” by Claudene Rease. Following an unusual advertisement in the paper a series of misunderstandings and mistaken intentions ensue, which resulted in laughter ringing through the Apostolic Church as the students performed.
Teacher/director Tracy Cameron, was extremely pleased with the two shows held in Stoughton on May 4 and 5, while also extremely proud of the group which had attended the Middle Years Drama Festival at the University of Regina on Tuesday, May 3.
“We were competing there and the performance was adjudicated, there’s no first or second awards in the Middle Years Competition, but the students were adjudicated and received feedback on their performance,” Cameron said. “They also had the opportunity to attend workshops while there. A big thank you to the Stoughton Central School for making that experience possible.”
The performance opens on Kayla Shand (played by Justine Giroux) sitting with her mother, Mrs. Shand (Nikita Nahbexie), when there is a knock at the door. Kayla has invited her very best friend Phyllis (Rayah Will) over, not for a leisurely visit, but to be her Maid of Honour in a wedding to be held that night.
As it turns out the Shands had placed an advertisement, “Wanted: One Groom,” and had included all the attributes the young man should have, including a love of antiques. The ad reads that the gentleman caller respond no later than that day.
Phyllis is in disbelief, first wondering who in their right mind could possibly place such an ad and second what kind of person would answer such an ad. As it turns out, 20 years ago this is how Mrs. Shand and Mr. Shand (Jessica Baumgartner) met and married.
A case of mistaken identity and intentions follow as there is another knock at the door. A young man, Richard (Tiarra Ogrodnick), arrives to inquire about an advertisement at the Shand’s residence. The only problem? Richard is inquiring about an advertisement placed in the paper the week before regarding an antique doll for sale. Richard is flabbergasted by the development, but as the family learns more about Richard and Richard learns about Kayla, he decides he did arrive at the house to answer the ad of “Wanted: One Groom.”
Phyllis can’t believe it, but as she sits down shaking her head the family leaves the room and Phyllis picks up the phone to place her own advertisement.
The assistant director Austin Cameron, prompter Chris Mould, and stage hand Kyra Coderre all added to the wonderful production.
“A special thank you to Amanda Baumgarner, dessert organizers, all the supportive parents, and the Apostolic Church for sharing their beautiful church with us,” Cameron exclaimed following the production.
