Expect glitter with a dose of much-needed social commentary as Oak Bay High students hit the stage singing and dancing their way through The Prom.
Even a PTA meeting breaks out into song in the musical that follows four Broadway actors lamenting their days of fame as they travel to a conservative town to help a lesbian student banned from bringing her girlfriend to prom.
By the second act the community finally learns “gay people are cool and not terrible,” said Grade 11 student actor Madeleine Bartle-Clar.
It shares a message she values, in the face of current anti-gay and anti-queer rhetoric.
“I’m happy we picked this one. it’s an important meaning to it, especially right now,” Bartle-Clar said. “It makes people feel less alone.”
Grade 12 student actor Cora Neil portrays one of the Broadway actors blasted by the press who heads to help the Indiana teen and along the way learns “to be a good person.”
“It’s about things our culture needs to see,” Neil said. The storyline leans on themes of learning and acceptance.
“It’s eye-opening, there’s a lot of meaning,” Bartle-Clar agreed.
Aside from that message, the show brings a boldness only high school dance and a handful of struggling stage actors can provide. Behind the scenes, stagecraft has developed a large set, especially compared to last year’s Matilda – where Neil portrayed Ms Honey, a stark calm contrast to her role this year.
And the large song and dance numbers rock that set. “It’s a lot to look at,” Bartle-Clar said.
“It’s just a lot of sparkles, walls, lights. I would call it a big party,” Neil added. “It’s fun, there are certain parts that are unexpected and funny.”
The Prom, with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Bob Martin and Beguelin, based on an original concept by Jack Viertel, is on stage at Oak Bay High with shows from Feb. 28 to March 8, in the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, 2121 Cadboro Bay Rd.
Tickets are $10 to $12 and available online at oakbay.sd61.bc.ca/news-events/the-prom.
