The high-school play “The Paper Chase” will be performed on Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m.
“The Paper Chase” is about Hart (junior Jaelan Trapp), a first-year Harvard Law School student, and his struggle with the contracts class taught by the notoriously tough professor, Kingsfield (senior Gracie Strumpfer.) Hart further complicates matters when he begins dating Kingsfield’s daughter Susan (junior Avi Bhullar).
“This play was chosen to facilitate the limitations of our stage and the number and talents of our actors,” director Brian Frishman said.
However, with the small stage in the MP room, set changes pose a challenge for the actors, according to junior Austin Talamantes.
“It’s been really difficult because there are a lot of set changes, way more than other plays we have done,” he said. “For a while they tripped us up.”
Frishman, junior Daniel Hernreid and Erich Bernard, the stage manager who helps with the lights, built and painted the platform from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Nov. 7, and made some minor adjustments on Nov. 9.
Hernreid also helped make the set for last year’s play, “Seven Stories,” since he wants to be involved in a little bit of every aspect of putting the play together.
“I figure that if I want to make a career out of acting and theater, I might as well do a little of everything,” Hernreid said.
Cast members senior Akilan Murugesan, freshman Luca Procida and others celebrate backstage with drinks. “It looks like (alcohol), but they’re actually drinking disgusting watered down Coca-Cola,” freshman actor Jack Christian said. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Director Brian Frishman (right) tries to figure out how and why a chair didn’t make it on stage. During rehearsals, Frishman critiques and gives funny commentary on what to do if there are any mistakes. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
During the party scene, Susan (junior Avi Bhullar) introduces herself to Hart (junior Jaelan Trapp), sparking the beginning of their relationship. The duo was supposed to kiss during this scene, but the kiss was written out. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Professor Kingsfield (senior Gracie Strumpfer), Bell (senior Max Schmitz), Anderson (senior Akilan Murugesan) and O’Connor (freshman Luca Procida) chat during the party scene. It was very difficult for Strumpfer to find a pair of shoes to match her dress. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Hart (junior Jaelan Trapp) and Susan (junior Avi Bhullar) have a picnic in the park. In rehearsal Bhullar repeatedly forgot the cue for the next scene, “Come on!” evoking laughter among the other drama members. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Bell (senior Max Schmitz), Anderson ( senior Akilan Murugesan), Ford, (junior Austin Talamantes) and O'Connor (freshman Luca Procida) talk about law cases in the study group. Professor Kingsfield is supposed to be a man in both the movie and the written play, but Frishman elected to make the part a female role. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Kevin (junior Daniel Hernreid) and Ashley (senior Elinor Hilton) talk. Hilton said the maternity outfit that she wears later on in the play is very uncomfortable. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Senior Gracie Strumpfer (right) and junior Maryjane Garcia study lines backstage. Garcia is drinking Peet's tea that Luca Procida’s mother provides at every other rehearsal in order to keep the cast members awake. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Hart (junior Jaelan Trapp, middle) and Ford (junior Austin Talamantes, left) are in the hotel room when Mr. Wentworth (freshman Blake Lincoln) checks on them. Notice Trapp’s feet? Trapp forgot his shoes for rehearsal, so he's wearing only his socks. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Bell (senior Max Schmitz), Carole (junior Maryjane Garcia) and Kevin (junior Daniel Hernreid) congregate in the classroom before class starts. Hernreid thought that his prop book, a novel entitled “Life at Harvard,” was hilarious. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Hart (junior Jaelan Trapp, middle) stands to answer a question from Professor Kingsfield (senior Gracie Strumpfer, back). Trapp wanted to wear glasses during the play, but director Brian Frishman vetoed it, saying it made Trapp look goofy. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Hotel manager Mr. Wentworth (freshman Blake Lincoln, left) checks Hart (junior Jaelan Trapp, middle) and Ford (junior Austin Talamantes, right) into a room for the night. Although it isn’t depicted, Lincoln decided to wear glasses in the play to appear older. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
Students Ford (junior Austin Talamantes) and Marie Thomas (freshman Sophie Naylor) sit in the classroom while Professor Kingsfield (senior Gracie Strumpfer) lectures. Naylor volunteered to be in the play because there was an extra female part. (Caption by Mohini Rye and photo by Adam Ketchum)
“I’m excited because it’s my first show as a senior and the first play of the year,” Strumpfer said. “But I’m kind of sad because it’s my last year working with my friends.”
Hernreid thinks that the play will be one of their finer performances. But he says it would be better if the drama department had a larger budget to work with.
“I would like to get a video camera hooked up to a monitor in the green room so we can see what is happening on stage,” Hernreid said. “Ultimately it would help with missed and late entrances.
“I would also like new curtains that automatically open with a pull of a rope, and a functional green room, because the one we have is too small.
“Lastly, we need a new MP room! Ours is falling apart. If we were to get a new MP room, all those problems that are listed above will be fixed. I want a beautiful stage which can be used for when the music department plays, but also a functional theater with actual comfortable seats for the audience.”
Junior Emory Shi will be running the lights.
Tickets are free for faculty and staff, $5 for students, and $10 for adults.
—By Allison Zhang, Sonja Hansen and Mohini Rye
