Turley Publications photo by Ruth M. Lyon

Jake Wetherell, a convincing Mad Hatter, portrays a drinking and drugging social menace.

North Brookfield Youth club performs ‘Alice in the Technicolor Phase’

By Ruth M. Lyon

Turley Publications Reporter

NORTH BROOKFIELD - The North Brookfield Youth Club Drama Troupe presented a play that they’d written and produced before an audience in a two-night stand recently.

“Alice in the Technicolor Phase,” based loosely on the Lewis Carroll classic “Alice in Wonderland,” dealt with problems confronting teens today in a fun-filled production, with high-jinks highlighting such serious subjects as bullying, teen pregnancy, underage drinking, drug use, self mutilation and self-esteem or the lack thereof.

The curtain opens with poor Alice having been thrown into her locker by a bully. As she passes into and through a world unlike her own, she meets a cast of zany characters. She manages to confront a host of troublesome characters with amazing aplomb, forging bonds of civility and camaraderie along the way.

The cast, who wrote and produced the play, also created the minimalist set and painted creative scenery to complement each scene.

Intermission was enhanced by musical selections performed by Emma Monahon, Danielle Cleveland, Jake Wehterell and Paul Paseirb.

Alice, in act two, manages to find her way home, as she continues to struggle to solve the problems presented in the hectic first act. Needless to say, all ends well; the youthful playwrights and actors had seen the light at the end of the rabbit hole by the final curtain.

Youth Club Director Marty Toomey, pleased and proud as always of the group of teenagers who contribute so much to school and community life, points also to the adults who serve as advisors and smooth the way for youth activities in and out of school. Director Sara Priestly was given special thanks by the troupe, for “her time, energy, and thespian experience.” Evident and active also were volunteers and teachers Brenda Casey, Mrs. Pettee and Mrs. Flannery, with Pettee and Flannery acting as Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee in the play.

The cast, in its entirety, were as follows: Emma Monahan, Jake Wetherell, Nick Lovely, Justin Lusignan, Dakota Hinerth, Tansy Remiszewski, Nick Falardeau, Smaantha Kaplan, Kara Spence, Cathereine Buzzell, Danielle Cleveland, Mrs. Pettee, Mrs. Flannery, Kara Spence, Joey Fonatine, Xavias Marhefka, Kirs Toomey and Sloan Anderson. The stage crew: Ted McCarty, DJ White, Jason Mulhern, Brittany Strandberg, Tom Brunell, Nicole Oliver, and Jackie Noyes.

The program was drawn and designed by a cast member who wishes to remain anonymous.

What’s next? According to Toomey, summer vacation will, for many of the group, include the summer camp program presented by Youth Club members. “We’ll keep you posted,” she said.