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| The "Little Mermaid" cast |
By
Elizabeth Richards
Putting
on a Disney show is an ambitious undertaking, and Windham High School pulls it
off beautifully in their production of “The Little Mermaid”.
From
the acting, singing and dancing, to costumes, lighting, special effects and
sets, the show is magical from Ariel’s first moments on stage to the final
scene. Windham has some amazingly talented students, and they shine in this
familiar tale.
Countless
hours must have been spent creating the sets and costumes that brought this
story to life. Creating an underwater world on stage is tricky at best, but
this cast and crew pulled it off beautifully.
This
year, younger students filled some of the main roles, including freshman Emma
Chasse as Sebastian and sophomore Denali Dieumegard as Ariel.
Chasse,
who said she’s been acting since second grade, brought Sebastian to life with a
quirky walk and delightful expression. Chasse said she was overwhelmed at
first, but by a couple of weeks before the show opened, she was taking it all
in stride and enjoying every minute. “It’s my first high school show, and I’ve
waited for this for such a long time. It’s so crazy!” she said.
Dieumegard
said she’s been acting since kindergarten, and has performed at Schoolhouse
Arts Center, Breakwater School and Windham Middle School. She said she has always loved the character
of Ariel and wanted to play the role. “It was a really nice surprise, getting
the role. It’s a dream, honestly.”
Listening
to her sing, it’s easy to hear why she was cast. Her voice is strong and
steady, and it’s easy to believe that it would capture the attention of a
handsome prince. Her mannerisms portrayed Ariel’s innocence and longing for a
different life nicely.
Dieumegard
said the cast is like a family. “They’re all so kind and inviting. It really is
a cool community,” she said.
Each
role seemed perfectly cast. It can be difficult to bring such well known
characters to life in a unique way, but each performer did just that. The
ensemble moved in sync to clever choreography, their voices blending perfectly,
to create dynamic numbers that were incredibly fun to watch. Some numbers were
funny (Will Searway as Chef Louis in Les Poissons had the audience roaring with
laughter) and some more touching and sweet. All were well executed and
engaging.
It
was clear from the quality of the production that the talent extends well
beyond the stage. Scene transitions went
smoothly, and lighting cues and special effects were right on time. The
costumes were amazing, and clearly the product of a lot of hard work.
Some
older students had the opportunity to take on leadership roles that extended
beyond their on-stage presence. Damara Stratis, who played a gull, was the
dance captain and Travis Burt, who played Prince Eric, was the Assistant
Director.
Both
have been involved in theater for many years, and as seniors were excited to
take on these leadership roles. Their interest in getting involved beyond
performing was sparked when they did “Kiss Me Kate” as sophomores, Stratis
said. She said she has loved watching everyone grow as the show came together.
“It’s teaching me more about responsibility and being a good role model,” she stated.
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| Ariel (Denali Dieumegard) and Ursula (Corrine Ulmer) |
Being
that role model makes the production more about community instead of just the
individual, Stratis added. “This really does give a good sense of community.
Stratis
stated that after high school, she’s interested in going into occupational
therapy. “That is very much about helping people and supporting people. This is
kind of prepping me for that,” she said. “I think it’s really going to help me
in my career.”
Burt
was student director last year for the “Sound of Music” as well. “Having my own thoughts and my own creativity
being portrayed on stage was an amazing feeling to me,” he said.
This
year, Burt said he handled more scenes and was trusted to take control when
Juergens was busy. “I have felt like I’ve grown more mature from it,” he said.
“I feel like it’s really helped us become who we are.”
Burt
said he wanted the other students to trust him, just as he trusted older
students when he was younger. Having the
responsibility of assistant director has made him more responsible, he said,
and he can carry that through to college and beyond. Burt is interested in
studying acting, and direction, in college.
“I’ve enjoyed taking control and being able to create and invent my own
show,” he continued. “You aren’t just focused on you yourself, you’re focused
on the entire show as a whole; you’re not just inventing a character and making
it grow, you’re making sure that the entire cast grows as a whole,” Burt said.
The
performance I saw was evidence that the entire cast and crew worked cohesively,
coming together to put on a production so good I had to remind myself it was a
high school show. The show runs for one more weekend, on Friday November 16 at
7 p.m.; Saturday November 17 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, November 18 at 2
p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for children, students, and seniors at the
door. Reserved tickets are $14 and can be purchased at www.whsfallmusical.weebly.com.
