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Read the Top 5 Reviews! All reviews are written by high school students in the Edmonton area.
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By Martha Estrada Baca
Archbishop O’Leary
There is a common saying that goes, “Less is more”. Morinville Community High School’s The Drowsy Chaperone brazenly disagrees with this. The play opens under a shroud of darkness. Anticipation builds. Then out of the darkness, a voice announces itself. The Man in Chair played by Avery Pelletier goes on to describe his own experiences of waiting in the dark for a play to commence. Not only describing his experience but purposefully recreating it for the audience. An intentionally cultivated first encounter with the character that allows the audience to delve into the mind of the Man in Chair. As the story of the play continued to unfold, I could not forget those first few moments in which I encountered complete darkness and the instance in which the Man in Chair’s experiences were momentarily my own. This is the first impression you receive of the production.
When the play finally begins we are greeted with a set that exudes the authenticity and
mundanity of any typical apartment. There are old school innuendos as we see through the vintage radio, decor, and appliances within the set. The space is riddled with pamphlets of notable plays and productions proudly displayed on the walls of the set. Masterfully, an environment is created that feels personal to the Man in Chair allowing for a sense of connection and familiarity between the character and audience through this use of setting. The impressiveness of the set is astounding, especially considering it was entirely created by the students themselves. Every small detail and thoughtful allusion was due to this wonderful team. This was the first sign to me of the incredible effort and enviable level of talent put into the play by these students.
This is not the only aspect of the production that continued to impress me as I watched. The performances of the actors almost outshines all other aspects of the play. The commitment of every single actor was displayed in their diligent portrayal of each of their characters. Amy Begg plays Janet Van De Graff with an air of appreciation for the character and a willingness to embrace the dramatic comedy within the play. Similarly, Pelletier is on stage almost constantly and yet she tells this story with admirable conviction by not shying away from the limelight. Bri Farough and Kara Suvan who play the Gangsters add a whole new level of hilarity to the physical comedy presented in the play by contributing their own enjoyable energy to their performances. The Drowsy Chaperone is incredibly self-aware and this specific portrayal of this musical plays into that by committing to that tone unfalteringly throughout the entirety of the play.
Morinville Community High School’s production team dares to succumb to the silly humour, stereotypical character types, and dramatic story presented by The Drowsy Chaperone. Though, not only was the story wonderfully and tastefully portrayed, this team of students was able to revitalize the story through their own take on the characters, line delivery, and their undeniably infectious energy. The incredible effort put forth by every single student involved should be fully appreciated and celebrated. Come and enjoy a show that will not only make you laugh but will also validate and accurately portray what it is like to appreciate the art form that is theatre.
By Minali Bamunusinghe
St. Joseph’s Catholic School
Walking into the Mornville Community Cultural Center as a die-hard musical theater fan, Man in Chair and the audience had just one thing in common. Reminiscing his wise words; “I just want to be entertained. Amen.” And the students of Mornville Community High School did just that! An evening packed with masterfully curated laugh-out-loud moments left the audience clutching their hearts and gasping for air.
“The Drowsy Chaperone” is a five-time Tony award-winning musical first released in 1998. With music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, and a book by Bob Martin and Don Mckeller.
The show revolves around a Musical Theater Geek who brings to life a ‘play within a play’ by spinning an old record. We watch the show unfold bringing to life the story of two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a drowsy chaperone and an over-the-top Casanova, dramatic showgirls, an eccentric wedding planner, and two scene-stealing gangsters. This jovial parody of the 1920 musical, ‘The Drowsy Chaperone” artfully breaks the fourth wall leaving musical theater fans feeling both nostalgic and hysteric.
Morinville Community High School’s production of ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ truly brought out the heartbeat of the show. It’s explicit how much effort the cast and crew alike put in to bring this comedic musical to life. Throughout the show, the actors on stage oozed with chemistry making it almost impossible for one to believe that none of it was real and that it was all just for show. The actors did an unparalleled job mastering the art of portraying a ‘Play within a play’ which is rarely a breeze. Their smooth transitions from Man in Chairs monologues to the reenactment of The Drowsy Chaperone and the use of props within the living room to create the set of the show truly brings its feeling to life.
Avery Pelletier who plays Man in Chair brought the audience to their feet with her phenomenal performance. Pelletiers witty improv, her engaging and related comedic delivery grasped the crowd leaving us agape and in awe. Her character was the heart of production and her rendition brought depth and emotion to every scene. An honorable mention goes out to both Kaleb Imgrund-Harvey and Taryn Meyer for their impeccable tap number. The dedication they’ve put into ‘Cold Feet’ is even more admirable after learning they’ve never tapped before! A commendation goes out to Amy Begg and her unmatched vocals which encapsulated every emotion her character was feeling effortlessly. And not to forget the comic genius Benjamin Allain, who played Aldolpho. Allain's impeccable comedic timing, facial expressions, and body language had the audience in fits of laughter. The chemistry between Allain and Lauren Andrews (Drowsy Chaperone) can also not go unmentioned.
Kudos to the costume designing team, hair and make-up team, student choreographers, set designers, and stage managers. (standing ovation please!) The deep attention to detail and creativity of the set deserves the biggest shoutout. From the playbills on the walls to the utility poles at the back of the set the design added to production and helped bring the story to life on stage. The costume team also did an equally incredible job bringing the magic of the characters to life through their creatively thrifted costumes. A special mention to Katie Fingler and the ensemble for the captivating dance numbers.
By Augustus Williams
Victoria Composite High School
If you’ve been feeling a little blue recently, almost as if you’d like to escape the reality you’re living in, then perhaps a good old fashioned trip to the theatre could lift up your spirits. A classic, feel good musical to brighten your day with a trip back to the 1920s. If you’re feeling that way, you can take the drive down to Morinville Community High School, and have a great time with The Drowsy Chaperone. With a gorgeous set, talented cast, and heartfelt story, this beautifully connected ensemble breathes life and realism into a wacky, heartfelt, and more than anything, fun show.
A play within a play such as The Drowsy Chaperone presents an extra hard challenge for every performer. To portray an actor playing a character requires double the amount of development work, especially when trying to capture the ridiculous nature of actors and musicals from the roaring 20s. Lauren Andrews nails that as the titular Chaperone, with her extravagance perfectly walking the line between ridiculous and believable. Her consistent clocking to the audience reads as almost clown-like, and is a perfect homage to the self aware nature of actors from that time period. As well as Lauren, Amy Begg also stuns as the knockout bride Janet Van de Graff. Her vocals have a notably classic sound to them, as if she really has jumped to life out of an old vinyl, and she wows the audience with songs like I Don’t Wanna Show Off, where she sings while performing a variety of other stunts - and stage magic or not, it’s still remarkably impressive. Another notable standout is Finn Dione as Trix the Aviatrix, who stole the show as startlingly as she crashes through the ceiling in the last act. With a voice which blows us away like the propellers of her plane, and a confidence on stage that is a rare wonder among high school students, Finn captures what it means to be a featured character.
The other major challenge with a double layered show is to make the shift of worlds clear. For The Drowsy Chaperone, this task rests almost exclusively on the shoulders of Avery Pelletier as the hilariously heartbreaking Man in Chair. She does a marvelous job of capturing our eyes pointedly to her record player, redirecting our attention from whatever dazzling musical number has just finished. Her ability to handle text is truly skillful, with her many, many monologues appearing as effortless as if she were speaking her own words.
Most people will tell you that a good comedy is harder to pull off than a good drama, and that statement comes down, ultimately, to the timing. How long to wait to deliver a punchline is crucial to the execution of a joke, and the cast of The Drowsy Chaperone clearly understood this. Avery’s Man in Chair and Aidin Farough’s Underling had an especially comprehensive grasp of this. Man in Chair’s style of comedy is very different from the rest of the show, mainly dry quips and the everlasting humour of social anxiety, but Avery maneuvered the shift between styles expertly. Aidin’s Underling brings a great freshness to the spit take scene, pulling off a bit in which the punchline is the lack of humour. His wry wit contrasts beautifully with the erratic personality that Liz Nelson brings to Mrs. Tottendale.
Speaking of Liz Nelson, it’s important to note that not only did she act as Tottendale, but she also choreographed the tap number Cold Feets. Kaleb Imgrund-Harvey and Taryn Meyer, playing Robert Martin and Best Man George, both learned to tap dance in under two months for this production, and Liz taught them both while choreographing, all three of them sacrificing many hours of free time to work on the number. If that’s not commitment to the execution of a show, I don’t know what is.
The cast of The Drowsy Chaperone have clearly spent multiple rehearsal hours getting to know each other, and their work feeds the chemistry of every scene. For a show with numerous two to three handers, a tight cast and extreme comfort between actors is an absolute necessity. Aldolfo and Drowsy’s intense flirting, Underling and Mrs. Tottendale’s many year long relationship, the starry-eyed love of Janet and Robert. All of these things require a level of emotional maturity often unexpected from high school students, but this cast evidently rises to the task, and handles it with grace.
The tightness of their group also adds to the comedic hits of the show, as their comfort with each other and the script plays a massive role in the understanding of the story. They know how to make us laugh, and they know why they’re making us laugh. The Drowsy Chaperone walks a hard line between comedic and heartfelt, and as we sit with Man in Chair to watch the show unfold it becomes increasingly clear that his beliefs are true, and sometimes all we need to feel better is some light hearted musical theatre. The students of Morinville Community High School make one thing incredibly clear - musicals are as important to them as they are to the characters they play, and they invite us into their bizarre world to share with us the wonderful experience of singing, dancing, and escaping reality, even if only for one night.
By Arianne Bungubung
Archbishop MacDonald
The perfect mix for a musical: hilarious, heartwarming, and a little unhinged. Morinville Community High School's production of The Drowsy Chaperone left the audience in awe. They made the audience longing for another act of this beautiful production. The life and passion brought by the cast made this iconic musical one of their own. Not to mention the dedication with the acting and scenery which embraced the beauty and talent that was shown on stage.
The Drowsy Chaperone, written by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, first debuted as a gift at Bob Martin’s wedding in Toronto 1998. A comedic and theatrical masterpiece involving the character of the Man in Chair replaying a prized record of his favourite show: The Drowsy Chaperone. It plays the buildup of Janet Van de Graff and Robert Martin’s wedding in the bustling 20’s. Like every wedding in a musical, it is full of twists and turns with hilarious characters who touch hearts and souls. We envision the Man in Chair’s mind and realities through scenes of chaos, cocktails, and corny choreography.
The hearty, old-soul that Avery Pelletier captures as the Man in Chair is something that charmed the audience and entranced them along into a story. Pelletier wore the shoes of a theatre loving man, and became it. From the commentary and to the facial expressions Pelletier performed, she remained unforgettable alongside the energetic songs that allowed everyone in the audience to have an enjoyable experience. As well as the storytelling created by Pelletier’s perception of Man in Chair swayed the audience to laugh, smile, and even cry.
Who knew bakers could be so intimidating? The dynamic duo of gangster bakers were so unexpected but Bri Farough and Kara Suvan elevated the roles and became unforgettable. The delivery of the lines was not only comedic, but felt threatening even while holding rolling pins and baked goods. Their vocals in “Toledo Surprise” did not disappoint, and their onstage personas left the audience with something to laugh about on their way home.
Not only was the acting extraordinary, the design and work that the technical theatre put into the set was beautiful. Considering that the majority of the tech theatre was done by students, they did an excellent job executing a vintage apartment from the posters to the contrasting colours; it really created a compelling atmosphere. The innovative props were so versatile, it enhanced and really gave that over the top musical experience. The costume designer's attention to detail with huge pearls and mustaches for the roaring 20’s was just perfection. It connected the bridge of imagination to the Man in Chair to reality, which made this production so special.
As each second progressed, being an audience member became an honour to admire such hilarious and bubbly scenes. It is hard to ignore the talent and intricacy that the cast and crew put into this play. They created a vision as if the Man in Chair’s imagination was performed on stage and made every part truly worth it.
By Abby Solomon
Archbishop MacDonald
From the moment the lights dimmed, and the crowd went silent, Morinville Community High School’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone transported the audience to a wonderful world of laughter, music, and nostalgia. Morinville’s talented performers brought this intricate story to life with an energy that made it impossible to resist, leaving the audience between bouts of laughter.
The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical play within a comedy, first presented on stage in 1998. Composers Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison cleverly intertwined the protagonist, Man in Chair, with his love of musicals and the elaborate fictional production he adores. This ‘play within a play’ format creates plenty of opportunities for humor, heartfelt emotions, and captivating moments, displaying the actors' vocal prowess.
Avery Pelletier, a Grade 12 student, brought the Man in Chair to life with a performance that was both hilarious and deeply moving. Pelletier’s comedic timing was impeccable, her improvisations throughout the show a whitty gesture delivered seamlessly. Her ability to transition from lighthearted commentary to moments of vulnerability—especially during Act 2’s emotional climax, when its importance was revealed—kept the audience engaged. The way Pelletier presented her character with such depth and attention to detail, including her accent work and articulation, connected Pelletiers’ character to the crowd, their eyes quite nearly glued to the fascinating narration.
Another standout performance came from Lauren Andrews as the Drowsy Chaperone embodied through the character's mix of aloofness and charm, her rich voice shined during the show-stopping “As We Stumble Along.” Her vocal range was a highlight, and through the blending of humor and vulnerability, she captured the character’s conflicted feelings about love skillfully, encapsulating the character’s change from quirky detachment to the heartfelt revelation of being “drowsy from love.” Andrews’ playful chemistry with Benjamin Allain’s Adolpho sparked laughter and applause throughout the crowd, particularly during their spontaneous romantic duet with a surprising pop out bed. Her ability to switch between comedic theatre and heartfelt emotions was nothing short of mesmerizing and hilarious.
The technical aspects of the production were equally impressive, the set design, choreography, and costumes an incredible creation by students. The set design was very eye-catching, with the decadent shades of yellows and oranges standing out against all the precisely placed decor, enhancing the nostalgic charm of the show. The costumes, also student-designed, were bold and character-specific, from Janet Van De Graaff’s glamorous gowns to Kitty’s quirky outfit, even the ensemble's rapid outfit changes. The opening scene of Act 2 underscores the cohesive abilities of the ensemble, the interaction with the crowd an entertaining blur of identical splashes with red, beige, and black and white prints. The choreography, too, was a testament to weeks of hard work; it was polished and engaging, particularly the tap dance number led by Liz Nelson, who trained tirelessly to deliver a seamless routine.
From its lively introduction to its heartfelt finale, The Drowsy Chaperone was a milestone of high school theatre. With amazing performances and exceptional comedic timing, everything was beautifully wed. MCHS gave an unforgettable celebration as a testament to their love for theatre. As the record comes to a close, the echo of dedication lingers—for all those lucky enough to watch.
Photo Credit: Kaylin Schenk Photography @kaylinschenkphotography
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