If there is a stairway to heaven for opera star Tito Merelli, then there are doors for the student actors of Ridgewood High School.
” ‘Lend Me a Tenor’ is one of my favorite farces,” said Jim Smith, director of the Norridge-based school’s spring play by Ken Ludwig. “As far as the genre of farce goes, it’s considered a classic.”
“Mistaken identities, bawdy innuendos, over exaggeration,” added Smith, an English and theater teacher. “Oh, and at least six doors.”
It will be interpreted by the Ridgewood High School Drama Club and Thespian Troupe 6662. Shows are April 26, 27 and 28, all staged at 7 p.m. in the school’s Frances C. Bernero Auditorium, 7500 W. Montrose Ave.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.rhsil.booktix.com, or at the door. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.
“Since the show is a farce, we do recommend parental guidance for anyone 13 and younger,” Smith said.
Set in 1934, the Cleveland Grand Opera Company is thrilled to welcome singing legend Tito Merelli (Jeremy Silva of Harwood Heights) to appear for one night only as Otello.
“It’s a great show, and I’m giving it my 100 percent,” said Silva, a senior. “I have a great cast and great director.”
In the plot, Merelli arrives late and is ill and must rest. Merelli threatens suicide and then is presumed dead. After a series of misunderstandings including that biggie, it’s up to Max (Adam Witusik of Harwood Heights) to save the performance as the fill-in, self-taught tenor.
“Throughout the show, he (Max) has to develop his confidence,” said Witusik, a junior. “I think the play is really funny.”
Maggie, who was asked for her hand in marriage by Max, is played by Caleigh Czarnecki, a senior from Norridge. But Maggie has a crush on Merelli and plots to meet him in person.
“She’s looking for that wonderful, special, romantic love,” Czarnecki said of her character Maggie. “She’s not willing to settle until she gets it. She’s (Maggie) just hopeful that true love exists somewhere.”
The role of Henry Saunders, Maggie’s father and the irritable general manager of the opera company, is played by Maddi Polley, a freshman from Harwood Heights.
“I do think gender blind casting should be more of a thing,” said Polley, a female in a male character role. “I think that I just want to show people that it’s OK to play a role that’s the opposite of your gender. I don’t really think that I am setting an example. I’m just doing what I want to do. I thought it would be fun.”
Audrey Majer is the student assistant director. She’s best friends with Czarnecki and said her years in the Ridgewood program have instilled life lessons.
“I love it so much,” Majer said, of drama club. “I was a very shy kid and when I was younger, I got picked on a lot by kids and that really took down my self confidence. I didn’t have a lot of social skills. And then one day, Caleigh said, ‘You’re joining Drama Club with me.’ And that was freshman year, and I’ve been in it ever since.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance photographer and reporter for Pioneer Press.
