High school drama program spoofs popular genre in spring production
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
The East Troy High School drama students are having a lot of fun getting read for the spring production – “Varney the Vampire.”
“There is such an attraction to this supernatural kind of thing right now, we wanted to capitalize on it,” director Deb Williamson said. “It’s just a popular genre right now and it’s a lot of fun for the kids.”
Williamson said “Varney the Vampire” is a spoof of the original vampire stories, told by an ensemble cast filled with fun and interesting characters.
“There is lots of action and lots of fun throughout the entire production,” she said. “There’s nothing scary, nothing bloody – it’s something fun for the whole family to enjoy.”
“Varney the Vampire” or the “Feast of Blood” is based on a melodramatic novel that was a part of the “penny dreadfuls” of the mid-1800s. Varney was a major influence on later vampire fiction, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The spoof is based on a melodramatic novel attributed to Thomas Prest, the creator of Sweeney Todd.
In the tongue-in-cheek play, 1900s vampire Sir Francis Varney travels to Italy to ask forgiveness from a lost love whose ghost is said to roam the landscape. But once there, Varney forgets his purpose and begins to act like the vampire he is, threatening everyone he encounters. During the course of the play, he is shot, stabbed and hung, but still survives. When Inspector Balsadella begins to investigate all the strange going on at the inn, things get even funnier.
“It’s a small cast of 13 people, so they work as a really good unit together – there are no small roles,” Williamson said. “They’re having a great time with it.”
The cast consists of Jordan Paullin as Sir Francis Varney, Teagan Oxley-Hase as Flora Bannerworth, Jared Paullin as Richard Dearborn, Hannah Buchholtz as Signora Bell, Brett McAlister as Inspector Balsadella, Courtney Johnson as Miss Anderbury, Grace Christiansen as Jenny, Kelli Larsen as Inez the Gypsy Girl, Jessi Falk as Amelia, Nick Schmieden as Gina, Lindsi Starrett as Carla, Brianna Schubert as Cynthia Holland and Brooke Schubert as Lucinda Holland.
Brooke Bartlett is the stage manager. Allison Mengel is the assistant stage manager. Crew members include Emerson Dignan, Ali Kruger, Chrissy Pulver, Sydney Paddock, Mariana Nelson, John Veselka, Katie Aldred, Katie Starrett, Alina Guetlich, Clark Hudec and Austin Smith.
Hair and makeup artists are Kylee Martens and Tess Atkinson.
The play premiers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 11, at East Troy High School, 3128 Graydon Ave. There also is a 7:30 p.m. show on Saturday, March 12, and a 2 p.m. show on Sunday, March 13. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students.
For more information, call Williamson at (262) 903-0670.
