Granby Memorial High School’s dramatic arts program is taking on The Twisted Tales of Poe as its fall play. The rendition of this 1940s radio play is dark and twisted, as it follows four stories from Edgar Allan Poe: Tell Tale Heart, Cask of Amontillado, The Raven, and The Black Cat. Four different leads will portray these stories through staged radio dramas. The acting is complemented by sound effects produced by the set crew live on stage as these stories are told, which the director described as “Not a challenge, but an adventure” that she is eager to take on and perfect.
Erin Dugan, Granby’s director this year, fell in love with theater at a young age and has found a passion to help others find themselves within the arts as well.
Although this is her first year at Granby, she has been directing for 12 years with Valley Student Theater in Granby and Opera House in Enfield. Dugan’s favorite part about this show is that the audience will be able to “Sit there and close their eyes and know exactly what’s happening on the stage.” This adds an uncommon element to the show.
Cast member Jacob Tong, playing Officer Simpson, finds stepping into this role enticing because working with a new director was exciting, “It’s been easier to find the character that I’m portraying because Erin does exercises with us to make us feel like our character and get to know them.” Jacob is most eager to show the audience the sound effects, “They elevate the experience as an audience member.”
Behind the scenes working with these actors is the stage crew. Lauren De Los Reyes has been a part of the set crew for three years and is beginning this fall as a set manager. Lauren explains that this show is different because no props are being moved. The set crew, normally doing their best to stay hidden while seamlessly moving props, will be onstage in costume to produce sound effects as the stories are being told. Stage crew members and actors will have to be synched in storytelling and audio. Lauren said, “I think the most interesting part is two people essentially working together at the same time, but one person is voicing and the other is making sounds so the audience can imagine the movement.”
Editor’s Note: Please also see the related article by the Fine Arts Booster Club in this month’s issue.