“Mr. Gatsby, I’ve never been happier to see anybody in my life!”
KHS students will be saying the same thing as Meredith Sloane when they come to see Careless People: A Great Gatsby, the 2024 fall play! It’s time to set the stage!
“The story itself is full of interesting characters, fractured relationships, and tragedy, but at the same time, it explores the allure of the Jazz Age and Prohibition,” said director Ms. Bronder.
Sophomores, you may or may not know that you are going to be reading The Great Gatsby in your English class this year! Juniors and seniors know the story well!
“The Great Gatsby is a quintessential American novel, and I really enjoy the way this book is deconstructed and reinterpreted as a play,” said Ms. Bronder. “Furthermore, Knoch students read it in 10th grade, so it will help students who have read the book or are going to read the book understand it better!”
Lead female, senior Morgan Clark, plays elitist golfer Jordan Baker. Clark understands the challenges of such an important role, and knows exactly how to deal with them (as she has had many roles before).
Clark said, “The script has a lot of emotional depth and the tiniest character choices can make a huge difference in how scenes come off to the audience.You really have to think about the little things with this script.”
With receiving a supporting role for the first time, junior Ava West-as Myrtle Wilson- is navigating the challenges. But, all students in theater can make mistakes in dealing with a role!
“Personally I struggled with making choices for my character,” said West. “I didn’t want to make the wrong ones and embarrass myself, but I’ve learned that I shouldn’t hold myself back by worrying about it.”
Actors and actresses are usually similar in at least a couple ways to their character. It might be their style, behavior, personality, or more!
Clark said this about Jordan Baker:
“ I think we are very similar people, we’re both athletic and charismatic, although I think I might be a little bubblier than Jordan.”
West is stepping into her first set of character shoes (don’t mind the pun) as we know, and shares similarities and differences with her role.
“I don’t share her hobby of standing in the middle of the road, but we are both loud. And not going to lie, I think we both rock red dresses,” said West.
Not just performers have struggles with the show! The staff works very hard and has their own challenges to take on!
Ms. Bronder said, “The play is challenging for our Tech Director Mrs. Adams and our stage crew because there are no set scene changes; scenes shift in the middle of a scene without a blackout, so we have already been rehearsing with stage crew on those transitions.”
Crew members work to complete the sets, prepare the show, and decorate the stage for all the audience to see. The fall play this year has quite a different take on integrating stage crew members, and their jobs.
“Unlike any other show I’ve directed, our stage crew will be costumed as blue collar workers in gray jumpsuits,” said Ms. Bronder. “The Great Gatsby examines class structures, and the ‘unseen’ workers in the background represent the working class that is taken advantage of by the wealthier class of East Egg.”
With an abundant amount of lines in the show, there are many themes to apply onto the audience. Everyone has a favorite line in a show, and it usually can determine their feelings on things in life.
“There’s a ton of dialogue in this show,” said Ms. Bronder. “But one that stands out is from Nick Carraway’s father, early in the script: ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages you’ve had.’”
The cast, crew, and staff all hope that you will be in attendance on the two days that the show will be performed!
Ms. Bronder said, “If you can get to NYC, there is an expensive musical version of The Great Gatsby, but if you don’t have the extra $200 for a ticket, you can see our version for only $10!”
With all of this being said, look out for beautiful sets, costumes, and amazing execution of dialogue.
Ava West said, “COME SEE CARELESS PEOPLE: A GREAT GATSBY, NOVEMBER 22nd AND 23rd!”
