Upperclassmen, underclassmen build chemistry in preparing to perform Mark Twain play

For senior Hannah Dodson, sharing the stage with several underclassmen for

Newberg High School’s upcoming production of Mark Twain’s “Is He Dead?” didn’t feel natural.

At least not at first.

At the beginning of rehearsals, it was as if the newcomers to the theater program were invading her turf.

Fortunately for her, the rest of the cast and audiences Thursday, Friday and Saturday, as well as Feb. 12-14, that feeling dissipated and over time the older and younger generations built up a strong chemistry and family feeling.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” Dodson said. “I really love all the younger people that are here.”

Upperclassmen play many of the main roles in the play, including the main character, French painter Jean-Francois Millet, who is brought to life by Alex Foufos and Cole Aldred in Newberg’s typical double casting style.

Underclassmen are portraying some of the main characters, including freshman Molly Cox (alongside Foufos) as Millet’s girlfriend, Marie, but most are filling the play’s many supporting roles.

Building chemistry between old and young has been particularly important because creating harmony and balance with the cast’s comedic timing has been the central challenge of this production.

“It’s Mark Twain, so you’ve got his sense of humor,” drama teacher Drea Ferguson said. “Then David Ives adapted it and he’s a fabulous modern playwright, so with the combination of the two of them, the jokes just keep coming. Comic timing is so difficult and these guys have just taken to it.”

The plot revolves around the plight of a fictional version of Millet, who languishes in poverty and debt before his colleagues scheme to stage his death in order to dramatically drive up the value of his paintings.

Millet remains an active player by dressing up as his own fictional twin sister, Dais Tillou, and, eventually, Marie’s sister, Cecile (Dodson/Tatiana Lessaos) poses as a man in order to get to the bottom of things.

“I really like that I get to be able to break boundaries,” Lessaos said. “I’m one of the cross-dressing characters in the play, so it’s definitely showing the giant humor in that. The hardest part is not overdoing it.”

An amusing tug of war ensues between Millet’s rambunctious crew, which includes pupils Agamemnon “Chicago” Bucker (John Miller/Gordon Walker) and Hans “Dutchy” Von Bismark (Donnie Miller/Travis Cox), and the villain, Bastien Andre (C.J Koch/Jake Sinicki), who not only wants to ruin Millet but also marry Marie.

Ferguson, who is co-directing the play with sophomore Kenny Graeber, said the dynamic between Millet and his friends/pupils drives the show and has been quite impressed with Miller, who is making his stage debut.

“The chemistry between the four of them is just great because they bounce the energy off each other,” Ferguson said. “It ends up being greater than the sum.”

The cast is having a riotous time with the humor of the play, often fighting back their own laugher, especially when longtime friends are suddenly center stage in drag.

“All the characters are really fun,” Koch said. “No two of them are really the same. They’re very fun to watch on stage.”

More than one student said this year’s cast has been the most family like they’ve ever experienced, which is a strong statement considering the age division that existed during early preparations.

Lessaos, for one, said she appreciates how the upperclassmen have taken the younger students under their wing and bonded in the process.

“One of the biggest fears I remember from last year is you’re really scared to make fun of yourself because the audience might not find it funny,” she said. “Cole, who plays our main character, he doesn’t care whatsoever and it shows you that being willing to be open and letting the audience see that side of you just gives that kind of leg up.”

For the senior class, each production this year vacillates between the pure enjoyment performing alongside longtime friends while at the height of their powers and the bittersweet realization that their high school theater days will soon be over.

Said Dodson: “All I know is that every time something happens, it’s my last time.”

All shows begin at 7 p.m. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. For tickets, call 503-554-5305.

Written by: Seth Gordon