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 The BTC Junior Ensemble delivered nonstop laughs during their three performances of Once Upon a Mattress
May 6-8. The production featured a script that was updated by BTC
Artistic Directors Fiona Santos and Jason Brantman to include a mock
episode of ABC's hit TV game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
as the 12th Princess (played by Claire McNally) is grilled and
ultimately rejected by Queen Aggravain (Lily Cohen) as a suitor for her
son, Prince Dauntless (Clara Reyes). In addition to BTC's hallmark
brilliant musical work and exquisite staging, Mattress featured
a heavy dose of physical comedy and slapstick, wonderfully executed by
the Junior Ensemble students ranging from nine to twelve years in age.
Tyler Burr played Princess Winnifred, the rough and hearty moat
swimmer who captures Dauntless' heart and ultimately triumphs over
Aggravain's manipulations. Ethan Raduns-Silverstein played King
Sextimus the Silent, who cannot speak until the final scene and resorts
to a wonderful variety of gestures and body language to undermine
Aggravain's plots, along with his cohorts, the Jester (Wynnie Van
Dusen) and the Minstrel (Gabrielle Filiberti).
Blair Brownstein and Michela Proto turned in fine performances
including two beautiful duets as Lady Larken and Sir Harry, working
through difficult times in their fervent romance. And the Wizard
(Marlene First) is, so far as we know, still trying to find a newcomer
to the castle who will watch long enough for her to finish her "folded
parchment" trick, when she's not scheming with her Queen.
The cast was rounded out by the lovely Ladies in Waiting - Jenna
Lowry as Lady Lucille, Ciana Proto as Lady Rowena, Michelle Secunda as
Lady Merrill and Evie Tzelios as Lady Mabelle - and the brave knights -
Hannah Nash as Sir Studley, Arianna Thomas as Sir Luce, and Claire
McNally.
Santos, as Musical Director for the show, again drew from local
talent - including a number of high school students - to create a fine
pit orchestra, featuring Jerome Morris and Rick Donato on percussion,
Remy Kurs on keyboard, Dan Perelstein on Bass, Sarah Del Pizzo and
Patrice Macedo on violins, Patricia Santos on violoncello, Leigh Ann
Rettie on flute, Kathy Wilcox on oboe and clarinet, Antonio Thompson on
trumpet, and Troy Messner on horn.
The Junior Ensemble got a great boost from their Senior Ensemble
friends. Roxy Schoenfeld and Catherine Haydock worked tirelessly
throughout the preparations for the show as Assistant Directors and as
Backstage Managers during the actual performances. Melanie Burg and
Todd Ritch worked the spots, and James Masciovecchio was on Deck Crew.
Liz Haydock was Lighting Designer and Lightboard Operator for the show, and Jake Fine did great work as Sound Operator.
Please browse the professional photos of the show offered by Fine Arts Photography Group and order prnts of your favorite shots. |
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