Ask any past or present high school actor: tech week is the best and worst week of the school year. It has long and draining hours, causes late nights, and makes doing homework impossible. It also holds the most fun memories, funny stories, and the biggest applause and joy. It also holds tears for the graduating seniors, laughs and screams during traditions and warm-ups, and love for the whole cast that has become a family.
The 2024 FWCD production of “The One Act Play that Goes Wrong” is one that will not soon be forgotten by anyone who saw it. From the set to the cast to the crew, the production was full of talent, passion, love, and so many laughs.
“The One Act Play that Goes Wrong” is a play within a play where the actors (hilariously) do everything they can to prevent the low-budget murder mystery – “The Murder at Haversham Manor” – they’re performing from going wrong. The crew consists of eight main actors and a gaggle of actors posing as tech crew who just make the show even funnier.
“[“The Play That Goes Wrong”] is the funniest play that I have seen in my lifetime,” US Theater Director Siouxsie Easter said. “I laughed all the way through it the first time I saw it […] I chose it because I love a good comedy. This is a really challenging comedy […] and so I’m really excited to tackle it.”
And tackle it they did, starting with casting. Auditions were held the second full week of school in August and consisted of reading scenes and improv. The casting panel included Easter, Director of Fine Arts Lindy Heath, Middle School theater teacher Cathy Gullo, Middle School art teacher and props and costume master Valorie Flaherty, Middle School theater teacher and ballet teacher Natalie Bracken ’05, and Middle School choir director Erin Ypya.
Bringing the show to life through acting was the first step. Rehearsals were 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday nearly every week from September to mid-November. Actors worked on making their characters come to life, memorizing lines, and blocking scenes. One instance of line delivery hardship happened about midway through the rehearsal process when Priscilla Lambis ’25, who played Robert/Thomas Collymore, mixed up the words sister and finger while rehearsing and mistakenly said, “You’ll be sorry you ever laid a sister on my finger!”
The next step was the set. From a door that (literally) fell off its hinges, leavers that made everything fall, fake fire and a semi-fake fire extinguisher, and walls that crashed down on top of the actors, the set was the first challenge the crew faced.
“I think my favorite part of the set would have to be the center wall because it fell over me and that part was,although terrifying, very fun to do and probably my favorite stunt I’ve done yet,” Maya Branco Marques ’26, who played Sandra/Florence Collymore in the play, said.
The production used a lot of props to help the audience follow the story, like a rotary phone, a portrait of a King Charles Spaniel, a cigarette case and fake cigarettes, a nerf gun, and a stuffed cat the department affectionately named PussMaGuss.
Makeup and wigs played a huge part in bringing the show to life. Five out of the 14 actors wore wigs, largely because of gender changes, but also to bring the sass of the characters to life. Many of the cast also wore mustaches, which added a reality to the 1920s vibe of the show. Wrinkles, eye bags, fake moles, and heavy blush all frequented the actors’ faces to create or enunciate their features on stage.
“I grew emotionally attached to my mustache as well as playing a male role. I’m kinda sad I won’t get to play a male role in SIX [the spring musical],” Lambis said.
Finally, after 10 weeks of hard work, it was tech week. From 4:00-9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12:00-5:00 p.m. Saturday, actors, crew, and many, many others worked on the show. The first thing that would happen at each rehearsal was food.
“I think Rosa’s was my favorite meal because I really like their tacos and chips and queso,” Brooklyn Ogozalik ’26, the show’s Light Board Operator, said.
Actors then changed into costumes, did their makeup, and put their mics and wigs on. As tech got everything ready and checked the actors’ mics, the theater came to life. Props were pre-set before the show as actors touched up their looks.
About 45 minutes before the doors to the house opened, actors went to warm up and participate in what they call traditions, a super secret (and sacred) FWCD practice.
As doors opened 30 minutes before the production started, some of the cast ran around the house handing out programs, helping people find their seats, and causing chaos. Then, about five minutes before the show started, the rest of the cast went on stage for some improv, which eased the audience into the mayhem of the show.
Finally, the audience took their seats and the lights in the house dimmed. It was 65 minutes of constant audience laughter, bangs on stage from things (and people) falling, and all-around joy from the audience and the cast and crew.
After 10 weeks of hard work from so many people in and out of the theater, closing night came around. Excitement and tears bubbled through the cast and crew as emotions rose around the seniors’ last play and the cast’s last time performing “The One Act Play that Goes Wrong.”
The final bow that Saturday afternoon was a special sight to see. It marked the end of a chapter and the last time the family that had formed through it would be together.
“I could not have asked for a better final play. This being my senior year, it’s particularly emotional. I’m so proud of everyone [and glad] that we all had a lot of fun,” said senior Aero McCormack ’25, who performed in the fall play all four of his high school years.
