Charles Fisher and Kim Badiuk are looking forward to opening night when they and their cast of 23 stage their version of the classic Helen Edmundson novel, “Anna Karenina.”
The two students, who have taken on the responsibility of producing and directing the play, are hard at work getting a few more rehearsals in before the curtain goes up Feb. 15-17 at the Townshend Theatre.
“We decided to put the play on when the teachers decided that they were not going to do anything,” said Fisher.
“This is a different type of play for the high school because it is a drama and is much more heavy than what we usually do,” he noted.
“Everyone has been hard at work getting their lines memorized and the final touches done, and we are all looking forward to putting on the play.”
While the subject matter is much more serious than their usual repertoire, Fisher admitted the prospect of putting on a drama was a challenge everyone was anxious to take on.
“When we were looking for the play we wanted to do, we looked through a number of them before we settled on this one,” he noted. “We looked at everything from ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ to ‘Southern Discomfort.’
“We finally decided to do ‘Anna Karenina’ and we are very excited about it,” he continued. “This play is not really suited for young children but we thought that it would be a nice change to do something for an older audience.”
Though Fisher and Badiuk are familiar with the stage as performers, they admitted it’s taken a while for them–and their cast–to get used to their new roles
“We really have not had too many problems so far,” Fisher said. “We initially had some trouble getting the cast on track and keeping them there.
“Though this kind of a play is certainly more time-consuming, I like it because it gives you a chance to make the show they way you want it to be.
“It is interesting to be on this side of it rather than in the play itself.”
Tickets, which cost $7 for adults and $5 for students, currently are on sale at Northwoods Gallery. They also will be available at the door.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
