PVHS to stage "Play On"

Offering a bit of fun to students of Pequea Valley School District schools was at the forefront of director Danielle Peifer's thoughts when she chose "Play On" for her first Pequea Valley High School (PVHS) production. "I love that it's comedy," said Peifer. "High school kids have such fun with that." But it is not just her cast members that Peifer has in mind. "I think (adult) audience (members) and younger kids can follow and laugh at some of the silliness (too)," she added.

"Play On" will be presented at PVHS, 4033 E. Newport Road, Kinzers, on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 and 7 p.m.

"Play On" is a play within a play detailing a community theater's attempt to produce a show written by novice playwright Phyllis Montague, played by Annika Hofstetter, called "Murder Most Foul." The new murder mystery coincidentally has the same title as an Agatha Christie novel. Director of the play within a play Geraldine "Gerry" Dunbar, played Madeline Heverin, jumps at the idea of putting on the play because the playwright agrees to allow the performance at no charge. Unfortunately, the plot is lacking an actual murder, and the playwright keeps showing up at rehearsal to make changes with only a few days before opening night. The small cast also includes Grace Melson as stage manager Aggie Manville, Sean Ammon as Henry Benish and Lord Dudley, Naomi Brumbach as Polly Benish and Lady Margaret, Liv Hofstetter as Marla "Smitty" Smith and Doris the maid, Nathan Sensenig as Saul Watson and Dr. Rex Forbes, Robert Forsythe as Billy Carewe and Stephen Sellers, Tori Beiler as Violet Imbry and Diana Lassiter, Landyn Waters as technical director Lou Peary, and Gabrielle Troupe and Spencer Groff as Lou's stage crew.

Peifer said that the show is packed with circumstances that lend themselves to comedy. "Four days before the (opening night), they have never done the third act because (the playwright) keeps changing it," Peifer noted, adding that the writer also accidentally erases information stored in the sound board. "(When) they run the show, it's a comical series of events."

Peifer relayed that the student actors are "cracking themselves up" during rehearsals, but that the play is not without challenges. She noted it is confusing for students to develop two characters at the same time and that certain props have been assigned to the actors to help them stay in character. In addition, because the actors are rehearsing a play, some lines are repeated regularly. "Many lines are the same but trigger different results," Peifer explained. "(An actor) might say the same line five times within a scene, but each time it triggers (a different response)."

Working with a small cast has provided Peifer with more latitude to guide students in their performances. "It allows for more bonding and chemistry - a lot more collaborative work," she said. "I love working on acting skills and coaching, and a smaller cast gives me the freedom to do that." She commented that the play-within-a-play format pays homage to community theater troupes. "It's a fun recognition of all that goes into putting on a show - the amount of time and energy and what can happen when things change at the last minute," she said.

Readers who wish to purchase tickets may do so at the door prior to performances.