Carlton's Student Newspaper
“A long long time ago…”
Original Reporting by Kim Phan and Devanshi Parekh.
The Mad Hatter theater company has been putting on shows for many years and has won multiple awards both regionally and provincially.
This year’s production is Mr. Zulkoskey’s very own.
He has written the original script for a production of Sleeping Beauty which was first premiered on the 19th of November.
The production is named “Sleeping Beauty”, but it is not the Disney version we would all think of. It is a complete different story with different plot events and characters.
The atmosphere at drama practices is full of laughter, chatter and enjoyment. Molly Cross Blanchard, one of the actors, agrees completely.
“Though it is a drama club, there is never any drama in the sense of arguing and gossip. We all get along extremely well,” she says.
The actors had rehearsals every Tuesday and Friday at noon, Wednesday nights from 7-9 pm and Sunday afternoons from 1:30-4. There were also extra singing and dancing lessons for the same characters at noon on Mondays and Wednesdays. These consist of putting on the set, dressing up in rehearsal costume and running through different scenes in the play that needs work. They often dissected each scene to pinpoint the exact area of work needed.
“We love each other, it’s almost like we are a family,” Tim Franc, another actor, who plays the role of a character named Gart says. “ Everyone cracks jokes, smiles and laughs and there are times we get down to business,” Tim added.
Molly Cross Blanchard, who plays the evil fairy Frytania, along with Aline Gariepy says her auditions went pretty well. “I did have to sing for [Mr. Zulkoskey], which wasn’t so great.”
Tim’s audition, on the other hand, went great – he has been in drama for two years. “I think that if you’re willing to try out for any part, you will be great,” Tim encouraged.
Both actors agree that they couldn’t have asked for a better director than Mr. Zulkoskey.
“He is extremely knowledgeable,” Molly says, “and he likes to tease and have fun which makes us want to go to rehearsal every week.”
When asked who her inspiration was, Molly was unsure.
“I don’t really have an inspiration. When I act, I try to think of it from the audience’s point of view. This then influences the way I act because I try to be more entertaining and believable.”
As for Tim, he has many inspirations including Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean), Tim Allen, Bob Denver (Gilligan’s Island), Jim Varney (Ernest), his mom, his dad and his God.
Molly believes that taking drama will improve your confidence, speaking ability and most of all self esteem. Tim agrees.
“It gives you direction, getting things done while still having fun and allows you to act as someone else in character,” he says.
Both hope to always find time to pursue drama later on in life because it is something they find enjoyable. Tim is hoping to be a stand up comedian as a side job but the reality will only be known when the future unfolds
