Tensions are high as the Paso High Theater Company is minutes away from the curtains opening to perform their rendition of Fairycakes written by Douglas Carter Beane and directed by Marcy Keyser-Goodnow. It is the first of three productions the drama program will put on this year. Fairycakes is a take on Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” but features various characters from different fairy tales, including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Pinocchio, and more. Fairycakes tells the story of four fairy children, Peasblosom (Libby Higgins), Moth (Alyssa Wesley), Cobweb (Sky Collins), and Mustardseed (Gracie Domenghini), who find out their parents, the king and queen of the fairy kingdom, are getting a divorce. The catch is, if their parents get a divorce, all of the fairy children will die. Therefore, it is up to the children, with the help of their father’s fairy secretary Puck, played by Eli Jordan, to figure out a way to get their parents back together without telling them what will happen if they get a divorce.
Goodnow selected this play based on different criteria than she usually uses. One of the main things she was looking for was something Off-Broadway.
“Some of the most exciting work isn’t in the huge theaters on Broadway, but just down the street. Fairycakes was Off-Broadway in 2021,” Goodnow said.
There are many different exciting parts about putting on a play, according to the cast. The cast and crew become so close during this process because of the long hours in rehearsals they spend together.
“When you’re sitting in the seats, waiting for your turn to go up for a scene and just like seeing how it all comes together,” Collins said.
“Getting to work with them and getting closer and have fun, and learn more about the show together has been rad. I love it” Higgins said.
Some of the most exciting moments happen before the curtains even open on opening night. The program has adopted many traditions over the years. One of the cast and crews’ favorites is “family meals”. Family meals happen during tech week when they have late rehearsals that prevent them from getting home for dinner on time. So, each day of the week a few family members of the cast and crew volunteer to bring food for the whole team, and they all eat together before rehearsal.
“Doing a family meal together is a really great bonding experience because [we] get to have so much fun while [we] eat and prep for the show.” Wesley said.
The cast and crew had been working on Fairycakes since the beginning of the school year, and one of the things Goodnow was most excited for was for the play to have an audience.
“I am excited for the students to have the experience of their peers and families seeing them on stage! It is exciting to hear the laughter of an audience and make memories with your friends on and off stage.” Goodnow said.
The cast share this same excitement.
“Goodnow our director audibly gasped and clapped her hands because it was just so beautiful and seeing that reaction from the audience is really my favorite part about doing the play and being on stage in general.” Domenghini said.
Fairycakes was open Dec 1-3 and 8-10. In February of next year, they will be performing the kids version of Finding Nemo; and in the spring they will be putting on the musical Chicago.
