A Night with the Guys and Dolls of the Drama Club

10:10 AM. That's when I eat lunch over at WHS. Early, I know, but hey. Before my lunch table begins its weekly tradition of singing "Pizza Day" by the Aquabats, the Étudiant's own Ulfgar Largo (Chris Morrill) would like to make an announcement.

"Everyone has to come see Guys and Dolls."

So, I went. I was treated to an impressive production of the 1950 musical, but this is a news post, not a theatre review, so I won't stray from the topic. Right before the show began, its director, Ms. Emily Strong, addressed the audience, telling us that the actors have been rehearsing since after WHS's February vacation week, the week of Presidents' Day. Chris's involvement with the production, playing Benny Southstreet, has subtracted from the time he spends with his band, The Revivalists, and his academic performance (he hasn't done his Math homework in a while, and sleeps during class). And Benny Southstreet is only a supporting character.

"Up until...a week or so ago," he says, "Most people had one rehearsal a week, then everyone got together on Sunday. The bigger the part, the more you rehearse."

The club spent more time on Guys and Dolls than their two other productions this year, Arthur Miller's play The Crucible and Sophie Treadwell's short drama Machinal. Makes sense: the other two didn't have singing and dancing.

"For a while, I had to figure out the voice," says Chris, softening the '50s NYC gangster accent he uses in the show.

I managed to get all this dirt from an interview with Chris during the fifteen-minute intermission. But the real story that night, according to Noah Rodman (Rusty Charlie in the show) was the rave. More accurately, the blasting of Paris Hilton's song "Screwed" on the backstage stereo, as Kevin Edson (Master of Ceremonies) and Tyler Wilkinson (Lt. Brannigan) flickered the lights while the club danced in their dressing room. I can't make this stuff up; according to Noah, they did it during last night's intermission too.

The club has one more chance to rave this year: their final performance of Guys and Dolls is tomorrow night at 7:30. Referring to the male ensemble, Noah says, "We've bonded so much. They've done an amazing job," when I ask him what he'll remember most about working on the show. Answering the same question, Chris says, "Singing 'Guys and Dolls', working in the upstairs gym, and the upcoming sleepover."

Something tells me they'll be raving quite a bit that night.

Thanks to Chris Morrill, Noah Rodman, and Dan Casey for helping out on this article.