PHS Drama changed things up this semester by starting out with a big production, as opposed to the anti-drug “Smoke Out” play that normally kicks off the school year. I’m Sorry the Bridge Is Out, You’ll Have to Spend the Night—aptly named for its major conflict—entertained and at times, chilled the crowd with its cast of melodramatic monsters and cantankerous cretins. The full-length musical included a band of bedraggled zombies who greeted guests in the Black Box lobby, and also sold snacks during intermission. The spirit of the occasion could not even be disturbed by adoring parents who attempted to break their kids’ characters offstage.
All three shows took place on Thursday and Friday, October 27-28, which meant the cast put in hard hours from Wednesday to Friday in order to make the show a success. In contrast to the extraordinarily popular, Wizard of Oz performance of last year, the play was little well-known, which meant that some pre-existing nostalgia couldn’t save it from any sort of mishap. Drama students had to rely on sheer talent and constant practice in order to elicit the right response from the audience.
Few people realize that the writers of Rocky Horror Picture Show based the controversial—and at times, risqué—musical on I’m Sorry the Bridge is Out… (etc). Where we might have seen our beloved “Brad” and “Janet”, we now meet “John David Wellgood” and “Mary Helen Merriman”. When their car coincidentally breaks down near a creepy castle where a gaggle of ghouls coincidentally live, the hilarity ensues as Dr. Frankenstein, Count Dracula, Igor, the Wolfman, and several other lovable characters fight for their attentions.
Advanced Drama has been working for nearly the entire first quarter in order to put on the show. For the first time, they implemented a two-story set in the Black Box, with stairs ascending to the top level. In addition, a few students from the band class such as Jennifer Squires, Ryan Williams, and Jacob Ellis (who doubles as “The Mummy”) provided background music throughout the entirety of the play. Most of the cast gave up lunch time and after-school hours in order to rehearse and perfect the piece.
The title characters included some well-known and spirited faces here at Pitman. Senior Patrick Norris played the title character of “John”, whose naïve character and excellent singing voice made some of the high points of the stage. Senior Brea Smith played opposite Patrick as his trusting, and rather cynical fiancée, supported by choir students Angeleigha Arnold and Hannah Fontes as back-up singers. Ethan Hennes as Igor, Luke Gonzales as Dr. Frankenstein, Tadd Grant as Count Dracula, Katrina Alkhiss as Countess Natasha, and Sam Cotton as Dr. Nasser fought valiantly for the couple’s attentions and their lives. Ultimately, the audience learns from their performance that the lovable monsters we kill off in horror movies always find a way back into our hearts.
After a weekend’s hiatus from acting, the Drama students will return to prepare the long-awaited “Smoke Out” play. Hopefully, we can expect to see them on stage again before the end of the semester.
