The competition one act presented by the drama program this year is “Queens,” which is about the six ex-wives of Henry VIII who are making him relive his past in hopes of getting him to repent for the sins he committed against them.
A one act is a brief play, most are under an hour long, and they have a smaller team of people than it would take in a standard-length play as well. “Queens” has 19 actors and 13 people on the tech and stage crew. Ken Buswell, drama teacher, is the director for the play.
“I saw “Six,” on Broadway last year, and so when we heard that [“Queens”] was one of the options, I immediately emailed Buswell. I was like, ‘We have to do this.’ It’s really good. It’s definitely got some heavy topics, but I think it’s a really good show, and the cast can pull it off really well,” Junior Alexandra McCormack, playing Kathrine Howard in the one act, said.
Senior Addy Blair is playing Catherine of Aragon, King Henry’s first wife of 24 years and who was divorced after she failed to have a son. This is Blair’s second year in the one act.
“I feel like it was an interesting choice, and I did not see it coming, especially after our history of doing funny show, then sad show, funny show, then sad show, doing two sad shows really threw us in for a loop. I really didn’t expect Buswell to pick this one, because I have been begging him to do a queen’s thing but he actually did it, which I’m so surprised, and I’m very glad with his choice,” Blair said.
The tryouts for the one act were in August and the cast has been practicing together since then.
“I actually really like the cast. They’re all super sweet. There are some talkers, but they’re definitely better with it now. I think everyone really does want to do this, and they’re really cooperative. You know, when Buswell says hey, let’s do this, they’re willing to do it for like, hey, let’s try something out, see if it works, see if it doesn’t. They’re like, “Yep, absolutely.” So I do really like the cast this year. I think it’s a good cast.” McCormack said.
“I’ve liked this year’s cast because we bond a lot more and we’re a lot closer. Most of the cast is in Thespian Society, which makes us more attracted to each other, to just bond over that love for theater and the love for acting. I think we have a really good group, one of the best groups that I’ve seen here in a show. But I really like this group so much,” Blair said.
“I feel like the one act is a great experience for people who are in drama and want to explore theater, and people who aren’t in drama and want to explore theater, go ahead and try out, because you never know if you can get into a show, and you don’t know whether you’re going to like it or not,” Blair said.
“Queens” opens Thurs. Oct. 24 and plays again Oct. 26 at 7 P.M. “Queens” Tickets for the show can be purchased here: mcintosh.ludus.com/200466254
