By Jim Beers, contributing writer
CHESTER – After numerous COVID setbacks, cast changes, and weather cancellations due to snow and ice, the Chester High School stage production of “Tuck Everlasting” is nearing ready to open next week!
Some of the cast members of the Chester High School Theatre Club production of “Tuck Everlasting” take time out from rehearsal to pose for a quick photo. (Front row, left to right): Hayley Hoskin, The Voice; Ary Shipley, Granny; and Julia Venus, Winne. (Back row, left to right): Kaci Trost, The Stranger in the Yellow Suit; Emma Bryant, Mae; Salem Heins, Jesse; Kaleb Rehmer, Miles; and Noah Wetzel, Angus. The show opens next week with performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday March 17.18. and 19 at 7 p.m. and an afternoon matinee Saturday March 19 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are now on sale at the CHS Office or by contacting any cast or crew member. Isaiah Ferrell Photo
The show opens Thursday March 17 at 7:00 p.m. with evening performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday March 17, 18, and 19, and an afternoon matinee Saturday March 19 at 1:00 p.m.
Miss Hodge teaches sophomore English class at CHS and accepted the role of serving as CHS Theatre Club Theatre Director as well.
Hodge said, “This is my first time directing a play, so everything has been very challenging and new for me. For the kids, some are new to the stage also, so we are learning and growing together this year!”
“Not only are some of the cast and crew members new to theatre, they are also having to adjust to me as their Theatre Director. I have some very good and talented cast members, however, and they have been adjusting well and are doing a great job.”
After several weeks of casting the play, the cast is set for “Tuck Everlasting”. Cast members are as follow: Winnie is played by Julia Venus. Jesse is played by Salem Heins. Emma Bryant plays the role of Mae with Noah Wetzel in the role of Angus.
Miles is played by Kaleb Rehmer and The Stranger in the Yellow Suit is played by Kaci Trost. Nico DeGuzman plays the role of The Constable, while Ary Shipley plays the role of Granny. Finally, The Voice is played by Haley Hoskin.
The seven-person crew includes T.J. Lyons, Assistant Director/Soundtrack Coordinator; Emma Bryant, Set Manager; Abby Bollman, Props Manager; Oddessy Flores, Wardrobe and Makeup Director; Aden McFarland, Mics and Lights Manager; and Isaiah Ferrell, Social Media Manager. Theatre Director is Rana Hodge.
“Tuck Everlasting” is an American children’s novel that tells a story about immortality. The book was written by Natalie Babbitt in 1975 and has sold over 5 million copies. It is well known in the field of literature as being a classic of modern children’s literature.
The plot is rather simplistic and takes place in 1800. The story begins as 10-year-old Winifred “Winnie” Foster decides to run away from her overbearing family. They live at the edge of a village called Treegap.
That evening a man in a yellow suit approached the Foster home looking for information. During the encounter, Winnie, the man and Winnie’s grandmother hear a music box playing in the woods near the Foster’s home.
The next morning, Willie decides to explore the woods. Even though the Foster’s own the wooded area, they never enter it. While exploring, Winnie sees a young man taking a drink from a small spring. The man’s name is Jesse Tuck.
Being a friendly girl, Winnie asked the man his age. His initial response was 104 years old, but he very quickly changed his answer to 17 years old.
Winnie then tries to take a drink from the same spring, but Jesse quickly stops her. Winnie then mentioned her father and that made Jesse afraid that Winnie would tell her father about the spring.
At about that time, Jesse’s mother Mae and brother Miles arrive on the scene. They seize Winnie and take her to their home, all the time pleading with her not to be scared. In spite of the circumstances, Winnie quickly grows fond of the Tucks.
Angus Tuck, the patriarch of the family, explains that he wants to grow old, but he can’t. Angus asks Winnie to keep the Tuck’s secret, saying that of others found out about the spring, they would drink from it and later regret their immortality.
That evening, Jesse proposes that after Winnie turns 17, she should drink from the spring and live eternally with him.
The remainder of the story deals with Winnie’s decision making process of trying to decide to choose immortality and spend the rest of her life with Tuck, a handsome young man, or to choose a “normal” mortal life.
Patrons that attend the 2022 CHS Theatre production of “Tuck Everlasting” will find out the answer to Winnie’s dilemma as the CHS Theatre Club performs the children’s classic. “Tuck Everlasting”.
Tickets are now on sale by contacting any student involved in the cast or crew of “Tuck Everlasting” or by calling the CHS Office (618-826-2302) or coming to the CHS Office.
Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students.