By Chelsea Dekock

The annual fall play is something the students of Springfield High School look forward to every year. This year’s play, “And Then There Were None,” is an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s gory, yet classic, play. The suspenseful ending with the dynamic plot and characters was a standout for SHS’s theater program, but many do not realize the hard work that goes into the production of a play. SHS’s fall play is completely student-directed which means all the executive decisions (such as building the set and deciding stage directions) are decided by students. 

This year, the play was led by seniors Kara Frazier, Aliyah Hashmi and Rose Unal. Hashmi talked about the hardships of having such a huge responsibility. “People don’t realize how truly time consuming it is. You have to spend a lot of time outside of school. We held rehearsals every day, Monday through Thursday, for two hours. Then outside of that I had to come up with a program, and I buy a lot of things out of my own pocket, which will eventually be reimbursed but it’s still out of my pocket. I also spent so much time organizing and set building. ‘And Then There Were None’ is a very prop-heavy show, and getting the props was definitely not an easy task especially since some of the props were more controversial. It’s just a lot of time management and prioritizing what I need to get done because I’m also a high school senior that’s taking way too many AP classes, so whether I like it or not I have to learn how to balance.”

Although Hashmi talked about the troubles of being the fall play director, she also talked about how rewarding of an experience it was. “I had been dreaming about being the play director since my sophomore year. ‘And Then There Were None’ was the first play I thought of and I’m so incredibly thankful we went through with it because this is literally everything I could’ve wanted and more. This is exactly how I imagined the set to be and I could not ask for a better cast. The actors are all so incredibly talented and have created such a special bond so quickly. I love the cast and crew so much and I’m so incredibly grateful that I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people to help me execute my ideas.”

Alongside Hashmi, stage manager Carson Kowalewski, a sophomore, worked with stage crew and props. “The stage crew does a lot for the show. The crew ensures the actors have smooth scene transitions and we remind them of their cues. We also create the overall atmosphere backstage and make sure they’re calm and ready to go. Being in the stage crew was such an amazing experience and anyone can do it! I got to meet so many different people.”

One of the important aspects of high school is the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Being involved in the production process, like Hashmi stated, has allowed students to contribute to the creation of a captivating performance. It is a chance to collaborate with a team of talented individuals and learn new skills along the way. Plus, there’s a unique sense of camaraderie that comes with being part of a play. So, if you enjoy the idea of working behind the scenes and being a crucial part of bringing a story to life, the fall play is definitely worth considering! 

While the applause has eventually faded from the fall play, thankfully the spring musical is gearing up! If you are interested in trying your acting or stage crew skills, contact Mrs. Maryna Mitchell who can be found in the SHS choir room.

Photos courtesy of Play’s photographer and Chelsea Dekock