Get ready to laugh at ‘Where’s Charley?’

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/11/2023 (913 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Students from École secondaire Neelin High School are getting ready to make you laugh with their rendition of “Where’s Charley?” — a musical comedy set more than 100 years ago.

More than 70 students from grades 9 to 12, Neelin staff, musicians and volunteers are putting on the show this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium.

“Where’s Charley?” might not jog too many people’s memory, but the lesser-known show, written by Frank Lesser, who also wrote “Guys and Dolls,” is a hidden gem, said Tara Leach, Neelin art teacher and director of “Where’s Charley?”

“We have been able to really make it our own in terms of characterization and interpretation of the script,” Leach said in an email. “There is even a section of music at the end of an act, right after Charley sings about an imaginary version of Pernambuco, Brazil, that has been choreographed by two of our students, J.B. Bjornsson and Brianna Dyck. Audiences will be treated to something very unique in this section and throughout the play.”

The choice of this year’s Neelin musical was made by choir and drama teacher Carolyn Gwyer, who has been the music director of the Neelin musicals for nearly 30 years. “Where’s Charley?” will be her last after she retires this June.

“I’ve just been sitting on it,” Gwyer said. “I’ve never felt like we had the right kids until now. And we’re so ready for a comedy.

“We’ve done some pretty dramatic stuff in the last few years. And there’s funny moments and light-hearted moments in all the shows that we do. But we hadn’t done a real comedy. The first couple of read-throughs we just laughed our heads off about it.”

The story follows university students Charlie and Jack as they try to go on chaperoned dates in the year 1892. Much hilarity ensues as the young men try to spend time with their potential sweethearts. Charley’s aunt is the chaperone and when she doesn’t show up for the date, Charley panics and does something drastic. Leach said “rowdy hilarity” is the result.

“Where’s Charley?” has a double cast, each performing three shows. The evening shows are open to the public at 7:30 p.m. The cast will also be doing school performances during the day, including one for the entire Neelin student body for the first time. Leach said a double cast is a bigger challenge but gives more students the chance to shine in the theatre spotlight.

The double cast gives “more students the opportunity to take on large roles in the show and … it gives us the chance to see more than one actor interpret each role. It’s more work, but the rewards are worth it,” Leach said.

Neelin returned to the stage, after a two-year COVID hiatus, with “Anesthesia” in December 2022. Gwyer said there were some growing pains doing “Anesthesia” after such a long break, but that she feels things are back to normal with “Where’s Charley?”

“I’m just so glad that post-COVID we’re recovering really well. And we’re basically right back up to full speed,” Gwyer said. “It’s nice to watch (students) come alive on stage and get that experience. These are the moments that high school memories are made of, absolutely hands down.”

Leach said finding the costumes was a challenge, considering most stores don’t carry pieces from the 19th century. She said they checked their costume stores, borrowed from other production companies and had parents sewing what they couldn’t find. She added the students have had a unique insight into what dating used to be like more than 100 years ago.

“Comparing past and present ideas of propriety when young people interested in each other romantically spend time together has been fun for the cast. The 1890s were a time of great excitement about new technologies, new political activism and involvement in public life for women, which we definitely considered as we created characters. Our sets are inspired by the major art movements that emerged at of the time – art nouveau and impressionism,” said Leach.

Tickets are available at the WMCA or on the WMCA website. Tickets for adults are $22, seniors and students are $18, and children are $15.

» khenderson@brandonsun.com