Searcy AR (LP) – Every semester Searcy High School puts on a new and fresh play for the school. This semester the drama club is putting on The Borrowers a book originally written by Mary Norton and has been adapted for the stage by Mr. Charles Way. The play is about The Clocks, a family of borrowers; that is to say that they are 4 feet tall people who live under the floorboards and live by “borrowing” (not stealing!) from humans, never taking more than they need to survive. The Clock parents explain the world outside to their daughter Arrietty, but if disaster strikes and they’re discovered, they’ll be forced to emigrate a race for their lives out of the comfortable life they’ve known and into the surrounding fields, where they could fall prey to animals and may or may not find lost family members who emigrated years before. Cassidy Tipps who plays Eggletina in the play says, “I love the play so far and getting to know the other actors and actresses.” The actors and actresses practice one to one and a half hours each day. The play performance will be just over an hour. Ticket prices for The Borrowers will be five dollars for students, senior citizens, and military and seven dollars for adults. Seating is general admission and guests will pay at the door.
Casting and making a play is hard work too, Mrs. Taylor head of the drama club says, “We begin working on all of the backstage elements of the show lights, sound, set, props, and costumes at the beginning of each semester in our stagecraft class. Tech also meets after school twice a week for about 11 weeks preparing for the show.” To acquire royalties for this show, Mrs. Taylor was actually able to contact the playwright by email to receive permission to perform this play. Mrs. Taylor says, “I have heard a great deal of excitement about The Borrowers from students, teachers, and many others in our community. My cast and crew have been working hard, and I hope that everyone has the opportunity to come and see the show.”
The students put a lot of hard work into the play to put it together, Stella Engel the Assistant Technical Director and Assistant Shop Manager says, “I oversee everything that happens in the Scene Shop and help build the sets, as well as overseeing the rest of the technical areas like lights, sound, costumes, and makeup. I think it’s a fun play to work on, since it is based on a children’s book. It is also a slight challenge for the set crew, because we have many over-sized objects that have to be made in-scale.” The play sounds great and The Students at Searcy High School can not wait to see it be performed. English Previews will be on Wednesday April 9th and the two evening performances are Thursday and Saturday, April 10th and 12th.
