Richmond Senior Drama Club kicks off inaugural performance with laughs, cheers

RICHMOND COUNTY — The Richmond Senior High School Drama Club performed its inaugural production this weekend at the Richmond Community Theatre for two shows.

 The play, The Hysterical History of the Trojan War, is a parody of The Trojan War, and it is loosely based on Homer’s “The Illiad.”

Before the Friday night performance, Ashton Holmes, the drama club faculty advisor, warned the crowd that the play was a comedy and hopefully, her cast members would hear that spontaneous laughter and audience participation during the performance. The crowd was not disappointed as they filled the small theatre with cheers of joy throughout the 45-minute performance. 

“It’s a comedic retelling of the legendary conflict between the Spartans and Trojans, focusing on the absurd and humorous aspects of the epic tale,” said Holmes, a Richmond Senior graduate herself. “The play follows the key events of the Trojan War, including the infamous Trojan Horse, the fierce battles, and the meddling of the gods and goddesses in human affairs.” 

The small production was a mix of witty dialogue, slapstick humor, and exaggerated characters. 

“The play brings a lighthearted and entertaining twist to the classic story of love, betrayal, and war,” she said.

As the comedic chaos unfolded on stage, audiences were taken on a hilarious journey through the ancient mythological world, filled with memorable characters, unexpected plot twists, and plenty of comedic antics.

Preparing for opening night was no easy feat for the student actors. For the past two months, the students have been learning their lines in the English classroom area hallways and the breezeway just outside the department.

Holmes said the biggest challenges for students in theater arts are memorization, performance anxiety, and time management of a stage production. 

“These kids are so involved in their school and community, that finding the time to ‘do it all’ can be very challenging,” she said. 

Unlike her structured English classes, Holmes said she wants to teach students that theatre is a craft, an art form. 

“That they can transform themselves into their characters and create a bond with a type of character that they would never meet in ‘real life,’” she said. “Connecting with the character can help them make a connection with someone in the audience, even for just a moment. That’s the beauty of it.”

After the Friday night performance, Holmes came down from the production box at the highest point in the theatre with a huge smile as she hugged her fiance, Shane. “Those kids did an amazing job tonight on stage,” she said. “I couldn’t be happier right now and what they just did up there was incredible.”

Holmes said theatre isn’t about getting every line right but how they interact with the audience and hopefully make a positive impact after the performance.

“No amount of time is ever long enough to get it “perfect”, but that is the beauty of theatre,” she said. 

One of those students working long hours was Lily Wilson, a senior who has been performing since the third grade, and said her last time stepping on a stage before going off to college was emotional.

Wilson played the role of Helen in the weekend’s performance.

“It makes me feel sad but also excited about life after high school,” she said before the performance. “I like acting because it takes me away if that makes sense.”

On stage, Wilson was a natural in the spotlight and brought life to a character that the audience and fellow actors connected with. She was born for the stage, but she admitted that moments before the stage lights turn on, it can be nerve-wracking for the seasoned actor.

“I am always nervous leading up to going on stage, but once I get on there, and I start talking I’m okay and forget about all those pre-jitters,” she said.

She said her last performance at Richmond Senior was special because it was a comedy.

“Laughter is more important today than ever before,” she said. “Laughter helps us feel good in our lives and helps with the stressors. I hope people who came to the show laughed and forgot about those tough things outside the theatre, if not just for that one hour watching us having fun on stage performing.”

Wilson said she hopes the Drama Club continues at the high school because it gives students an outlet where they might find commonality with other students.

“Students need to find what they really enjoy and go after it,” she said.

For Wilson, she wants to major in neuroscience in college and see where life takes her from there. When asked if she would continue her acting, she had six words to say.

“We will have to just see,” she said with a smile.

Another senior was Kenneth Stancil who played Zeus and a Guard. 

He said his older brother, Kendrick, had a jump start on his acting career but it was with his former homeroom teacher, Ms. Richardson. With his love of singing and outgoing personality that demands attention in the room, Stancil said Richardson always told him he should be an actor. He eventually got the hint.

“I guess it’s the way I was acting in her class,” he said laughing. “She was always telling me I should be on a stage.”

Stancil was hooked on the performing arts ever since those conversations with his teacher.

“After that, I got on stage and was able to make people laugh and have a good time,” he said. 

His advice for younger students was not to wait to take a chance on something that could change their lives.

“You don’t want time to pass and not have those opportunities in life,” he said. “We are young and full of life. Why not seize those moments and do something exciting and brave like stepping onto a stage in front of strangers?”

Like Wilson, Stancil said performing comedies is important.

“People need to be able to laugh and laugh a lot,” he said. “With everything going on in society today, people need to be able to laugh and enjoy life. Without laughter, I don’t know where I would be today if I couldn’t make people smile and feel good about themselves. It’s the best medicine in life.  Hopefully, people can laugh with us during our performance and enjoy the play. It’s our gift to them – laughter.”

Holmes said one student was the glue for the entire process and made the weekend a success. Krysta Hook had the difficult roles of stage manager and lighting technician for the play.

“I really needed someone to help me backstage who knew stage lighting and was able to keep us all on track,” Holmes said. “That person was Krysta, and she was perfect for that job.”

Holmes said Hook may not have been in the spotlight, but her role was just as valuable as the actors on stage.

“I wouldn’t know how we could have done everything without her help and guidance,” she said. “She was the rock star that always had a solution to a problem.” 

For Wilson, Stancil, Holmes, and the rest of the cast, hearing the audience react with laughter and participate throughout the play with cheers of “Spartans” and “Troy” was emotional for all involved – both performers and the family and friends who filled the chairs.

Cast:
Cassandra – Shanea Hayes
Helen – Lily Wilson
Paris – Gavin Applewhite
Apollo & Ajax – Anja Dietrich
Odysseus – Dakotah Tschudi
Achilles – Ruthanne Williams
Athena & Hector – Noah Smith
Zeus & Guard – Kenneth Stancil
Hera & Patroclus – Nyx Hallberg
Agamemnon & Poseidon – Precious Patterson
Menelaus & Homer – Savannah Richardson

Stage Manager and Lighting Technician:
Krysta Hook

Faculty Advisors/Director:
Ashton Holmes
Kathleen Jacobsen