Lenape High School play director William Bausch didn’t just want to introduce the audience to this year’s fall drama to a new type of play. He’s also introducing them to a number of new cast members.
The high school is taking a different direction with this year’s fall drama, “The Great Gatsby.” The play is based off the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a cast of characters living a prosperous but drama-filled life on Long Island during the 1920s.
The script itself is a departure from the comedies performed at the school in years past. Additionally, the cast features a number of students performing in the fall play for the first time.
One of those students is senior Tucker Moses-Hanson, who is playing the role of Nick, the story’s narrator. Nick is a major character in the play, leaving Moses-Hanson on stage as much as anyone in the cast.
Not only has Moses-Hanson needed to learn his character, he’s also needed to pick up acting skills throughout rehearsals.
“I’ve had to learn how to act, because I’ve never known how to act,” he said.
Other members of the cast faced challenges similar to Moses-Hanson’s. The characters in “The Great Gatsby” are all adults who are involved in themes such as drinking, adultery and even murder.
“These are things high school students are familiar with second hand,” Bausch said.
Junior Erin Powell is playing the character of Daisy. She said her role has been difficult, even though she knew the story from the film.
“It’s such a complex story,” she said. “Even though we know it, it’s just so complicated.”
Some of the toughest parts for the cast have been intimate scenes, particularly when some of the characters kiss or are close to one another.
“It’s difficult, but (the teachers) make it as comfortable as possible,” said junior Alicia Easterday, who is playing the role of Myrtle.
Easterday describes herself as a shy and reserved person, while Myrtle is very loud and outgoing.
“It’s definitely been a struggle,” she said. “If I ever had a polar opposite of me, it’s her.”
Bausch said the students have been challenged because it’s very difficult to act angry or sad and convince the audience. Looking for students who could act convincingly was the biggest thing Bausch looked for in auditions.
“We’ve tried our best to be as authentic as possible,” he said.
Bausch chose the play since many of his students were familiar with the script. Students at Lenape also read “The Great Gatsby” during senior year English class.
“I tried to pick something the kids will enjoy,” Bausch said. “There’s a lot of interest in ‘The Great Gatsby’ movie.”
The cast is looking forward to the show’s opening night on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Easterday believes the audience will see a performance more true to the novel than the recent film was.
“This play is definitely more authentic than the 2013 movie,” she said.
“The Great Gatsby” will be performed on Nov. 19, 20 and 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door and $10 in advance. For more information, visit www.lrhsd.org.
