The Black and White

By: Bridget Pouliot

In less than two weeks, the lights go up on the Pilgrim Player’s spring show, This Must Be the Place. A comedy following a painter, Robert Zachary, through mistaken identities, proposal confusion, and a detective stuck in a yucca tree, this show is “crazy in all the best ways”, as described by Marisa Keaney. “It’s funny, it’s confusing, it’s loud, it has stories within stories and plot twists galore. There is never a dull moment in this show, and anyone who comes should prepare themselves for many laughs.”

Junior Rory Kelaghan expressed, “I love the humor of this show; some jokes are so stupid and random that it just makes you smile.” On top of being Robert Zachary in the B Cast, this is her fourth show as the costume manager.

A fan-favorite script in the drama club, rehearsals are full of laughter. The show brings new challenges with physical acting and wild characters with big personalities (and character voices). Freshman Andrew Pouliot, who plays Roger in the A Cast, explained, “I think the wide range of comedy makes [this show] so incredibly fun to perform, and to watch. From repeating jokes about random food to cartoonish stuff like someone getting hit on the head, it’s just an amazing time, and all the humor makes rehearsals even more fun.”

Sharing a similar sentiment, freshman Kaia Patty – who plays Gloria Desmond in the A Cast – shared, “We have so many laughs during rehearsal; it truly makes you appreciate the journey as much as the destination.” She expressed how much fun her castmates and the crew are to work with, joking they’re even fun to cry with when they are sad about the show ending and the seniors leaving.

In addition to new acting and on-stage endeavors, the set brings a whole new series of challenges. Different from the fall musical, the staging for this show is one giant set, as opposed to a bunch of smaller set pieces and props that moved on and off of the stage. Complete with a bar, multiple doors and stairs, and even a fireplace – which junior and Pilgrim Player’s co-art department head Ash Pike said was the most difficult part to make as someone crawls through it – there’s a wide range of pieces to put together.

Despite the challenges, freshman and techie Michaela Conrady explained, “Tech is making great strides, with the set largely going up on Wednesday the 26th.” Once up, the set will remain up until strike set immediately after the last show.

“The set looks amazing and we have been working really hard on it,” William McColl, a sophomore in his second show with the Pilgrim Players, expressed. “I’ve really enjoyed learning new life skills and working with friends on this big project. It makes me happy to help out and that’s why I love contributing my time to the club.”

Along with the other new experiences this show has brought Pilgrim Drama, an old tradition has returned: Drama D-Days. A chance for the club members to show their pride and support their club, they are asked to wear their drama merch on every D-Day in the schedule rotation.

Junior Marisa Keaney, who plays Wendell Zolotnik in the A Cast, described how much she loves the environment of the club. “A good description of us is a dysfunctional, but loving, family. We have stressful and crazy moments, but we’re all here together working for the same goal of putting together a perfect show, and in the process, building lifelong friendships and memories with people.” She also expressed her appreciation for the club in terms of building her confidence in herself and how much it’s helped her grow as a person.

“This show and this club is truly an amazing thing to witness and be a part of,” junior Jo’Dee Hodge, the body microphone technician for the Pilgrim Players, explained. “I think that that is infinitely more precious than any possible end product we could produce. You know what they say, ‘the real treasure is the friendships we make along the way’, and I do think this club stands by that.”

Come see This Must Be the Place next weekend, April 4th-6th! The A Cast performs on April 4th and 5th at 7pm, and April 6th at 2pm. The B Cast performs on April 5th at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased online (at https://pilgrim.booktix.com/ ), at all lunches next week, April 1st-5th, or at the door prior to the show! They cost $12 for general admission, and $8 for children under 10, students, and seniors! You won’t want to miss it!