In the beginning of November, Boston Latin School theatre presented its annual One Acts production, a collection of three short plays performed by actors from Classes VI to III.
The three shows this year were Jason and the Arrrrgonauts, It’s Always the Butler and The Waiting Room. Each show was written by either a current BLS student or an alumnus.
Isa Gonzalez’s (‘24 Jason and the Arrrrgonauts kicked off the production. This show follows the storyline of the ancient myth, but with a slight twist. In this production, the crew pokes fun at Jason’s not “pirate-like” name throughout their journey; however, at the end of the play, the crew eventually accepts the name as “pirate-like,” after Jason saves their lives during a confrontation with a monster.
Second up was It’s Always the Butler by Gus Vivieros (‘16) and Nathan Krieger (‘16). This play was a complex adaptation of the popular murder mystery trope, subverting expectations at every corner. It begins with two detectives attempting to solve a murder and immediately accusing the butler. They soon find out, however, that all of the suspects are butlers. During a few blackouts, three out of the five are murdered, and through much fourth-wall breaking, it is revealed that the director had killed them in order to gain fame.
The final show performed was The Waiting Room, written by directors Kelly McKenna (I) and Mae Noonan (I). The play follows several characters as they wait to see a doctor. The characters continue to wait impatiently, until they start to realize that the doctor is not coming to see them and that the room they are in is made of cardboard.
The One Acts successfully showed all the hard work and dedication of those involved in BLS theatre. Rehearsals began for the shows in September; actors and directors rehearsed several days a week all throughout October, even practicing late on Halloween.
Audience member Mairead Gagnon (III) explains her thoughts on the show, saying,“I thought it would be much more novice since it’s been so emphasized that it’s [for] younger grades, and [they were] learning how to go into it, but they were all acting really well.”
Collaboration was required on every front in order to make sure the shows went smoothly. BLS students working in stage management, sound design, set design, costuming, hair and makeup all came together and put in the work to make the performance a success. In the final weeks leading up to the show, all students involved in the One Acts rehearsed every day after school, often going past 4:00 P.M. working on finishing touches.
Reflecting on a few specific challenges that One Acts faced, Noonan recounts, “[It] was really difficult, because it was obviously the fall, and a lot of people were getting sick. They were in and out of rehearsal.”
Time constraints also proved to cause some difficulty for the actors as they had to dedicate lots of time to memorizing their lines and actions at different parts of the play. Through their dedication, however, they were able to create a final product that proved their efforts well worth it.
As actor Catherine Bao (VI) puts it, “[The best part of the production is] being a part of the One Acts community in general. I mean, everyone was nice, and I also made friends from other clusters and grades.”