Newfane Drama Club performs two one-act plays

The Newfane High School Drama Club will once again perform their annual spring one-act play. This year, they will be performing two separate one-act plays for audiences, during each show.

The group will first perform, “Maid to Order,” a farce about a wealthy widow who is expecting her boyfriend for dinner. Wanting everything to be perfect, the widow expects her staff to be at their best.

The drama club students said this show has a lot of comedy, running around, misunderstandings and mistaken identities.

The second show, “Black Comedy,” tells the story of a young sculptor and his fiancé who have “borrowed” some expensive antiques and furniture to try and impress an art collector, when things go wrong and other people start showing up. The show, which takes place in the dark, is staged with a reversed lighting scheme, illuminating the stage.

“It is very chaotic,” said student Shannon Feeley. “There is a lot of physical comedy.”

Danielle Beirkard agreed, saying both shows give the audience something to laugh at “so hard.”

“There is also a handful of double entendres in both shows,” said Devin Brewer. “They are both really well written.”

There are 15 students — grades ninth through 12th — cast in the two shows, many performing in both. There are also a number of students helping with set design and on stage crew.

“We have become a close knit family,” said Feeley. “That show’s in both of [the plays.]”

Brandon Winchell said the audience members would be able to relate to at least one of the characters in the show.

“You can relate to some of the characters and find something to love about them,” said Feeley.

Co-directing this show is Drama Club advisor Lisa Fletcher and former Newfane student Crystal Adams.

Adams was a 2011 graduate and decided to come back and help out her former school, directing for the first time.

“It’s definitely a challenge,” said Adams. “I’m use to being in [the students] position with acting.”

She said she believes it has been easier to relate to the students as a director, because she was where they were last year.

Adams said that so far, the students have done “awesome” and she looks forward to the final show.

Fletcher said that the drama club production is a completely student run show and they have learned the two shows over only a four-week period.

She also hopes in the future to continue bringing back a former student to help with the play, each year.

The shows will take place at 7 p.m. May 19 and 3 p.m. May 20, at the Newfane Middle School auditorium.

Tickets are $4 general admission and $3 for students and seniors.