By Casey Stribbell
The TIS Secondary Players put on three spectacular performances of the play And Then There Were None on May 5, 6 & 7. Each night, audience members lined up outside the empty MUST auditorium anticipating the cast’s production of this world-renowned crime thriller. Little did they know how much time and dedication these actors/actresses and behind-the-scenes crew had put in for the three days of live performances.
Just hours before the audience’s arrival, the auditorium was filled with cast members who were playing entertaining theatre games and warming up their vocals to get their blood pumping before the show. After these fun interactions, it was time for the cast to head back stage and step into character, while the crew made tickets and organized the programs. As the audience took their seats and waited for the lights to grow dim, cast members were dealing with their nerves while the tech crew began prepping the lights and sound systems for the opening act.
“We had auditions back in February and we’ve basically had rehearsal every day since. It’s a lot of work from the painting and sets, but we get the kids to do as much as possible so they can learn all the different elements and how much work really goes into something like this,” said drama teacher and play director, Sarah Weinstein.
Each year, Weinstein puts on two shows where she tries to incorporate the classics and introduce students to the unique styles of different plays. “I picked this play because it introduces the kids to mysteries and is a very traditional one-scene play,” Weinstein said. Choosing And Then There Were None was also significant due to Agatha Christie’s 125th birthday this past December and the book being named the world’s favourite Christie novel.
On the last night, after the concluding scene and final bows from the cast and crew, the lights turned back on and the audience exited the auditorium. The three months of practice and hard work had paid off—Weinstein’s production was a success. However, the work didn’t end there. Once family and friends said their goodbyes, the cast and crew had one last job to do. For an hour they worked together to remove props from backstage, organize the costumes, tear down the stage props/background setting, exchange and re-position the lighting, and finally take apart the stage. Despite being tired and hungry, these students could be seen laughing and smiling as they completed their final task before heading out to their last “family” dinner as the cast and crew of And Then There Were None.
