Junior Abigail Fried will direct this year’s annual fall play. Different from the annual spring musical, this play is student-run. Abandoned Way Out West will be performed twice this coming Saturday, November 23 at 2 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.
Abandoned Way Out West, written by Diana Burbano and Tom Shelton, takes place in the late 1800s somewhere in the West. The story is about a girl named Aquilina, who leads a group of orphans in a small town. Suspicion arises when three strangers appear and want to make a deal with the orphans to work on their pie business. However, those strangers want to take advantage of the orphans and take the small town for themselves. Aquilina’s job is to reveal the injustices these strangers made and save the town.
In her directorial debut, Fried said she is very excited to present the show for the Cinnaminson community.
“I know we’ve had some struggles with that in the past, but if I start, setting dates and stuff,” Fried said about organizing details regarding rehearsals and practice. “Everyone has been super cooperative and there’s not really been anything like a bad or a challenging thing that’s happening so far and I am really proud of that.”
While Abandoned Way Out West was not Fried’s first pick for a show, she was selected as director and selected it with assistance from CHS Drama Club advisors, Mrs. Megan Schweitzer and Mr. Keith Kesten.
“My first show was actually denied when I first applied but Kesten and Switchzer really wanted me to direct the Fall play this year so they let me pick another show,” Fried explained.
She added that the reason she wanted to direct Abandoned Way Out West was because of its uniqueness, including the use of American Sign Language (ASL) for one of its characters, Dizzy.
Junior Samantha Bobrin, who is involved in both the student-directed play and the school musical, explains why she enjoys the fall play.
“I think the fall play is different mostly because it’s student-led,” Bobrin said. “Honestly it makes rehearsals fun when just like, a bunch of people you know and not an adult telling you ‘do this, do that.”’
Due to its being student-run and student-driven, Kesten emphasizes the amount of effort and teamwork that is required to pull off the show.
“I want them to know how much work the kids put into it. I want to see it’s not just the people you see on stage, but it’s also the technical theater spot,” Kesten said about why students should come out to see the play this weekend. “I think people will like it. They’ll appreciate it. I know we have great actors that are performing.”
Abandoned Way Out West will be performed on Saturday, November 23 at 2 pm and again at 7 pm in the auditorium. Come out to watch and support your peers’ hardwork and dedication to the arts!
