Preparing for ‘Mattress’ is no cushy task
Staff writer
“Are there any allergies?” one girl asked as she prepared to open a bag of snacks.
“Yeah, dumb people,” deadpanned another.
Opening night of the Marion High School musical, “Once Upon a Mattress,” is this Friday, but when the cast met last Thursday to rehearse, the atmosphere was anything but anxious.
Including the tech crew and a lone French horn player, 23 students were present at the rehearsal. Roughly 30 are involved in the show.
Megan Jones, who co-owns Bill and Essie’s BBQ on Main St., is directing the show. Her two daughters tagged along Thursday to watch the rehearsal.
“The biggest challenge is just scheduling, because these kids are so involved in so many things,” she said.
Jones has a degree in technical theater and worked in costume design for 10 years.
After returning to Marion, she began doing costumes for high school plays. For “Once Upon a Mattress,” she has taken on a more involved position.
“I’m not technically employed by the school,” Jones said. “I think I’m like a contractor, so there’s a bit of a stipend, but it’s not like a regular job.”
The musical has been rewarding, she said, emphasizing the composite nature of “Once Upon a Mattress.”
“The reason that I chose this as our musical this year is it’s very much an ensemble show,” Jones said. “It’s a great star vehicle for multiple people, because everybody has a lot of really good material to work with. You’ll get to see lots of our upperclassmen kids and even some underclassmen really shine.”
Accompanying Jones were Jen Travis and Shyla Harris, who provided music, and sophomore Keenan Lange, who played French horn.
Music is key to the performance; the production features 27 different songs.
While the play is not yet at dress rehearsal, the medieval set is mostly completed, and some elements of costume were on display.
Students donned crowns and jangly jester’s shoes. During one scene, freshman Ryker Salsbury, playing a character of his own creation named Sir Studley, brandished a rubber chicken.
“I feel like it’s coming along pretty well,” Salsbury said of the musical.
Junior Cheyenne Hall plays another created character, Lady Rowena.
“That’s Megan’s idea, to have us create our own backstories,” she said.
Hall’s character is based on Rowena Ravenclaw of the Harry Potter series.
“This is my first musical,” Hall said. “It’s been a little bit of a mess, but it’s honestly been really fun doing it.”
The ensemble was beginning to practice light and sound cues, and a serious air loomed over the tech booth.
Freshman Kael Dameron and juniors Vlad Harris and Sam Calvert were responsible for operating spotlights and generally managing the technical side of the musical.
“I think it’s going fine,” Dameron said.
It is the freshman’s first show.
“I do [lighting] at my church, so I just decided it would be fun to do here,” he said.
Harris is a bit more experienced as a “techie.”
“It’s kind of an odd concept,” he said of the musical.
Back on stage, faculty and actors bounced ideas off each other. Jones and Travis — referred to as “Ms. Megan” and “Ms. Jen” by the students — controlled the creative chaos admirably.
“We’re working very well with each other,” said sophomore Benjamin Becker, who plays Sir Luce. “Some of the challenges are remembering the lines and scene changes.”
Opening night Friday is sure to be memorable.
“I don’t think there’s a single kid that hasn’t had their hands in multiple aspects of the show,” Jones said. “It’s a fun show, we have a really fun bunch, and they’ve been putting in the time.”
“Once Upon a Mattress” will open Nov. 15, 7 p.m., at The Performing Arts Center. An additional performance is scheduled for Saturday.
Tickets cost $5 and are available at the high school office and at the door.