A little bit of history found its way to Hobart High School Thursday night as students paid tribute to a story from the past with their performance of the play Burning Bluebeard.
Burning Bluebeard is based on the Iroquois Theater tragedy that took place in Chicago back in 1903. The show Bluebeard was set to premiere but a fire broke out when the crew tried to create artificial moonlight, leaving the theater in ruins. Despite a tragic history, every member of the cast and crew wanted to make sure they captured the joy this play brings to everyone.
Performing Burning Bluebeard has provided a unique opportunity for the students and the director as Hobart is the first high school to perform the play. They will even get to have the original playwright of Burning Bluebeard, Jay Torrence, in the Audience this Friday.
“It is unlike any other production I have ever done in all of my time directing,” said Cathy Nelson, theater director of Hobart. “I think a play like this is great because it gives people the chance to know more about a tragedy they may not be familiar with.”
Burning Bluebeard is also unique as it does not have a main star, and three members of the cast don’t even have lines. The lack of a spotlight may even be a good thing as it helps take some of the pressure off and gives the students the perfect chance to make the roles their own.
As there were only 9 members in the play, the cast had to depend on each other even more but they never let the small numbers scare them, and all of them felt more prepared than ever.
“Their energy has been on another level,” Nelson said. “They have been prepared since day one, it has all come together so well.”
The small cast has built big bonds and were ready to take on Burning Bluebeard and make history.
“There are a lot of mixed emotions, we are all nervous but we are all ready to go,” said Noelani Howland, a member of the cast. “I feel like all of us have grown close and that is going to lead to a great performance. We have all worked harder than we ever have before, we are grateful for the chance to do a play like this.”
There will be two more shows Friday and Saturday starting at 7 pm at the Hobart Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $6 for students $7 for seniors and $8 for adults.