There will be performances on Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1.
Shawnee High School is inviting the community to tag along on a journey through 12 unique stories with the fall drama “The Canterbury Tales … or Geoffrey Chaucer’s Flying Circus By Burton Bumgarner.”
The production debuts at Shawnee on Nov. 29 at 7 p.m., with additional performances on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
This fast-paced comedy follows a group of pilgrims on their voyage to Canterbury, stopping to tell their stories along the way.
Shawnee sophomore Jake Smith has been involved in theater for the past five years, and acts as the narrator to this production, introducing the characters to each subplot before they begin.
“Our take is very different from the book, I think it would be a nice experience for people to come see this new twist we’ve brought to life,” Smith said.
Similarly, director Marc Rohm noted the original flair the 24 cast members bring to the stage.
“It’s a comedic twist on a classic novel. It’s a unique play compared to what we’ve done in the past. I kind of look for plays outside normal realm,” Rohm said. “Seeing the way the students can step up to the challenge of having to do all these different plays within a play, it’s really neat to watch.”
All cast members remain on stage throughout the entirety of the show, dressed in simple pilgrim costumes, adding accessories and props for each character and story change.
Rohm went on to say that the cast works as a troop to master the skill of timing, learning to work together and feeding off of each others acting abilities.
Sophomore Christina Ackerman and junior Olivia Franken have been involved in productions since fourth and sixth grade, each resonating with a similar feeling of support from the theater family they’ve gained.
“All my best friends that I’ve made are all from shows I’ve done, so it definitely helps having that family with you and getting to bond over music and acting, it’s amazing,” Ackerman said.
Franken followed by saying, “I like having a theater family — friends you can always talk to and have fun with, and the aspect of being on stage, I just really enjoy it.”
As far as their roles in “The Canterbury Tales,” they each balance multiple characters throughout different plot lines within the show.
How do they evolve into each character? Ackerman and Franken both stated they review their characters’ traits to ensure each one is noticeably unique from the others, while also specifying the point of the scene itself and what emotions the character should be feeling in that moment.
As the weeks lead up to the show’s debut, the performers are perfecting each characters’ attributes in preparation for opening night.
“When you’re a performer, you know there’s a certain aura the shows have, you get a certain feeling in your gut when it’s the day or the night of the show and you’re on stage,” Smith said. “There’s really nothing else like that feeling.”
Tickets are available for purchase at Shawnee before the show for $12 for the public and $7 for students.
