‘Die Laughing’
Ensemble casts takes to stage for Minooka High’s fall play
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| The cast prepares for this weekend’s performances of “You Could Die Laughing,” which begins with television mogul Jacque St. Yves inviting 11 has-been comics to his island lodge off the Canadian coast to audition for the central role in his new TV series. It’s an opportunity to die for ... and that is someone’s intention! (Herald Photos by Heidi Terry-Litchfield) |
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MINOOKA – Seniors John Bond and Emily Kratz know what it takes to put on a top-notch performance on the stage in Minooka Community High School’s performing arts center.
Both young actors have spent the last four years participating in fall plays, musicals, and children’s theater.
“It’s fun and gives me something to keep busy with after school,” Kratz said. “I don’t know what I would do otherwise.”
Kratz is the second child in her household to perform on the stage.
She followed in her sister’s footsteps after seeing how much fun she had with drama.
Bond is also following in a sibling’s footsteps.
“My brother made me try out for the musical when I was a freshman,” he said. “I stuck with it and I’m glad I did.”
Bond said it’s added a lot of stress to his teen years and has meant a lot of late-night homework, but he definitely has had a lot of fun.
“It’s given me a whole new perspective,” Bond said.
While the fall play is an extra-curricular activity, it is just as much work as the rest of the school day, if not more.
“I do my homework at night,” Kratz said. “And I memorize lines even when I’m in class.”
They both said they love all forms of theater, but each has a personal favorite.
Kratz said she likes children’s theater because it’s always a fun show.
Bond, on the other hand, prefers the spring musical.
Both deliver large monologues in this year’s fall play, “You Could Die Laughing”.
The play begins with a television mogul flying 11 has-been comics to his island lodge in Canada, where they are to audition for a part in his new television series.
After arriving, guests find they are stranded, the housekeeper disappears, and the handyman drops dead.
The murder mystery goes on from there.
Bond plays a ventriloquist who once had a successful run.
“Being the ventriloquist, I have to add a high voice and have had to learn how to link up the voice with the hand movements,” Bond said. “It’s a lot harder than you think.”
He said a couple of times he’s used the wrong voice at the wrong time, but just like the hand movements, it has become easier in the weeks of practice the cast has put in.
Kratz has a different obstacle. Her character speaks with a heavy southern accent, which she admits she has forgotten and used in everyday life.
“It’s not hard to speak the dialect,” she said. “It’s the remembering not to use the southern accent when I’m not at practice.”
Kratz said her character is a lot like her in the fact she doesn’t have a lot of common sense.
“She’s definitely like me,” she said.
Bond said he finds more similarities with the “creepy dummy” than with his character.
The students have practiced Monday through Thursday since they were cast at the end of August.
Patricia Grawey - Beeler, director of the play, said she chose this play because it fit the group of students she has this year.
“We have a lot of strong actors without having any one dominant lead,” she said. “This gives everyone a chance.”
She said everyone of them have a monologue and are treated equally.
