Sweet ending for summer drama program
Published on August 21st, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - The lights dimmed, the murmuring crowd silenced to a breathless hush of silent anticipation and waited for...oompa loompas scuttling about the stage and singing about the folly of greedy and vacuous kids, woeful Charlie Bucket who is so poor that his four grandparents must share one bed and no remote control, and spoiled little Veruca Salt who tells her rich daddy that “she wants everything, and wants it right now!”
The crowd full of excited audience members witnessed these colorful characters and so much more, as they attended the Stoneham Theatre’s Young Company presenting “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.
“Charlie” was a culmination of the five week summer drama program hosted by the Stoneham Theatre. The program involved acting, dancing and singing workshops for 38 area children, as well as the grueling rehearsal process to make any stage play a success.
“A few of us have worked as full-time teachers before, and I think that really helped in organizing the kids, and communicating the importance of the workshops and rehearsal,” said “Charlie” Director Christopher Chew. “At first might not have seen the importance of some of the exercises and workshops, but they began to make the connection when real rehearsals began.”
The workshops dominated the summer program for the first three weeks, as simple games like Red Light, Green Light became vital exercises to sharpen their emoting skills. The exercises included honing their improvisational skills, as well as strengthening the vocal and breath coordination to carry a line or tune across the entire theatre.
“The entire staff of instructors really did a great job of getting us ready for the show, and helping us all become a team,” said Stoneham native Andrew Barbato, a little acting prodigy who carried the show as Willy Wonka. “Some of the kids weren’t really all that happy with their parts in the beginning, but they helped us to forget about that. It was great to see the show just come together before our eyes with everyone supporting each other.”
The teaching staff attempted to give the kids an authentic look at the world of theatre, and some of the butterflies and complete blank-outs that go along with it.
“We made sure that the kids were prepared with their staging, lines and cues,” said Chew. “But I also think that they were appropriately scared about going on the stage, and performing the play.”
The fear forced the kids to memorize their lines, and when to take their cues from their fellow actors. Activities that make up the common labors of a working thespian, and cultivate a growing interest in theatre and the arts.
“We feel that the theatre is something that most adults are going to just go out and find on their own someday,” said producing director Troy Siebels who began his theatre odyssey as a high school student. “It’s very important that young people are introduced to a heavy dose of theatre and acting as kids, and hopefully someday a number of these kids will make a living through acting, singing or dancing.”
Above and beyond the artistic merit of the programs are the friendships and social benefit reaped by the children.
“We became such a tight little unit with the bigger kids looking out for the younger kids, and helping the staff look after them,” said Melrose native Camila Indorf, who played Mrs. Salt.
The kids weren’t able to rehearse with the actual sets until just days before the show, but this gave the instructors plenty of time to polish their rough diamonds.
“We really gave a lot of time for workshopping and exercises,” said Chew “This was the first real play for a lot of these kids, and we didn’t want to teach and rehearse simultaneously.”
Once the kids heard the accolades and the cascading applause from the crowds on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, many are now hooked on the acting bug.
“I think we all had a great time learning and performing,” said Stoneham Middle School student Katia DeStafano. “I can’t wait to do this the next time Stoneham Theatre has a play for kids.”
The play was both well-acted and competently directed, as gum-smacking Violet Beauregarde, television obsessed Mike Teevee and precious little Grandma Josephine were enough to make Roald Dahl or Gene Wilder proud.
The Stoneham Theatre intends to produce additional shows for kids in the fall and winter, and will announce auditions in the early autumn.
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