GREENFIELD — There’s a lot to witness in this weekend’s production of “Gravestone Manor,” the latest KidsPlay show to take the stage at the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts, with performances April 21-23.
The series of one-act plays, all of which take place in an old abandoned house known as Gravestone Manor, includes a tale of a young girl bringing home her boyfriend to her very “wolfy” family, contestants on a monster dating game vying to date the Invisible Man, and a little girl interviewing candidates to be the monster under her bed.
KidsPlay director Chris Schaefer has had a blast helping her young proteges convey the spooky tales on stage, despite the occasional challenges, like teaching 13-year-old Charlotte Sumpter to walk in heels.
Charlotte plays a mother decked out in a matronly dress, pearls and heels, and Schaefer insisted that she rehearse in the shoes, although the teen is more partial to tennis shoes.
Schaefer said another challenge has been teaching the young actors the art of the rapid costume change. Most of the actors are cast in one or more roles, she said, requiring them to quickly swap clothing, wigs and makeup between scenes.
Reese Weitekamp, a second-year KidsPlay actress, learned to swiftly change out of a dress, wig, hosiery and heels.
“We rehearse the costume changes just like we rehearse the acting,” said Schaefer, who said accents and voice modifications have presented other challenges. Two of the one-acts feature vampires who have been directed to speak in Romanian accents, while another features an ogre who speaks with a Scottish accent like the big green ogre known as Shrek.
“We have a goblin, a boogeyman and a zombie, too,” Schaefer added. “All of those call for gravelly, monster-y voices.”
In spite of the challenges, rehearsals have been going well and Schaefer is pleased with the kids’ progress.
“We’ve worked really hard on this one,” Schaefer said, “and we’re all looking forward to getting it in front of an audience.”
“Gravestone Manor” hits the stage this weekend, with performances at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 23.
Tickets are available for $5 at Hometown Comics, 1040 N. State St., or at the door an hour before showtime at the Ricks theater, 122 W. Main St. in Greenfield.
For more information, visit KidsPlay, Inc. on Facebook.
