Redeemer Christian embraces theatrical chaos in Play On
A meta-theatrical romp about a community theatre troupe wrestling with a haughty playwright delivers polished performances and hilarious backstage mishaps.
Redeemer Christian High School's production of Play On is a riotous love letter to the arduous challenges of the performing arts — a meta-theatrical romp that captures both the desperation and absurdity of getting a show to opening night.
The plot unfolds as a community theatre company prepares to stage Murder Most Foul, an amateur playwright's murder-mystery cliché. From rehearsal to opening night, the playwright's devastating interference and cast-and-crew bumbling culminate in chaos that's as hilarious as it is enlightening.
Mercedes Gelso nails the role of exasperated theatre director Gerry Dunbar, anchoring the production with authoritative groundedness despite being engulfed by chaos. As actor Saul Watson portraying the scheming antagonist, Luc Fohr balances overworked thespian and fulminating menace with comic ease, subtly perfecting the villainous role through intentional accent fluctuations.
Anna Oeschger embodies entitled playwright Phyllis Montague with flamboyant swagger and jocular command. Eli Kaiser delivers a fantastically farcical performance as actor Billy Carewe, embellished with snarky and cheeky charm. Savvy Steiginga personifies the hustle and bustle of frazzled stage manager Aggie Manville with fluency and ease.
The cast and crew superimposed the inner play over the outer with delightful cohesiveness, oscillating between disgruntled thespians and posh elites. Costumes — from everyday to elegance, including flashy tights, bulky furs, and vivid teal and vermillion eyeshadow — solidified character personas with precision. The costumes department (Pascale Adéa, Rebecca Van Popta, Olivia Matera) and hair & makeup team (Emi Helleman, Liya Kuyt) adorned the cast with fitting attire and macquillage.
Director Ashley Visser captures the multidimensional atmosphere of theatrical life with refined nuance, proving that the greatest play might be the one happening backstage.