Porter Players are ‘juiced’ about fall play
‘The Love of Three Oranges’ opens Nov. 6

by Michael Gilbert

from The Homer Horizon

	Porter Players Dee Quinn (from left), Allison Anderson, Josh Hargraves, Franco Cerullo, Samantha Bohne and Rachael Joyce work on a character analysis activity during a recent rehearsal for the school’s fall play “The Love of Three Oranges.” Performances are Nov. 6-9 at the Lockport Auditorium, 1333 E. 7th St.

October 13, 2008

The Lockport Township High School Drama Club will be back on stage next month to add a slew of jokes and modern technology to a classic 18th century Italian fairy tale.

The Porter Players will present four performances of Hillary DePiano’s “The Love of Three Oranges” during the weekend of Nov. 6-9. The commedia dell’arte-style play is based on the scenario L’amore Delle Tre Melarance by Italian playwright Carlo Gozzi. DePiano rewrote and revised Gozzi’s nearly 250-year-old play in 2003 for today’s audiences.

Commedia dell’arte is a form of improvisational theatre that began in Italy in the 16th century.

“The Love of Three Oranges” follows the life of Prince Tartaglia, who is filled with misery until he encounters an evil witch and her henchmen. The two devise a plan to kill the lovelorn prince by sending him on a quest for three giant oranges.

The prince’s journey proves quite “fruitful” as he finds a friend in a clown, love in an orange and laughter in all that he meets, which includes witches, princesses, a unionized devil, melodramatic monarchs and a wild narrator.

“Hillary DePiano really adds a new twist to an old fairy tale — there are knights and princes communicating by cell phone,” said Laura Gilbert, the director and producer of the show. “We hope that this story will be enjoyed by children and adults alike. We’re really juiced to see what people will think of our sense of humor.”

Providing some of that humor are actors Ian McShane and Patrick Burke, who have been cast as Prince Tartaglia. Matt Carlson and Dylan Tramutolo will portray King Silvio and Mike McMahon and Allison Miszak have been cast as Pantalone. Erika Young, Lauren Strack and Kimmy Krzyszkowski star as the witty narrators. Many of the lead roles have been double cast.

“I have a group of kids who are very creative and have great comic timing,” Gilbert said. “As we’ve been rehearsing every kid has surprised me in some way. I’ve given the cast a lot of opportunities to improvise and create jokes they think are funny.”

	Lockport Porter Players Allison Miszak and Mike McMahon practice their lines during a recent rehearsal. Miszak and McMahon are double cast for the role of Pantalone.

Other members of the cast are Andrew Rogalny, Tevin Marbeth, Taylor Ketelaar, Allison Wall, Bridget Kramer, Lauren Ficker, Rachael Joyce and Samantha Bohne.

Also, Franco Cerullo, Allison Anderson, Lauren Foresman, Mandi Majka, Steph Daley, Josh Hargraves, Dee Quinn, Samantha Judd, Kim Grazulis, Michelle Hostert and Ashlynn Bridges.

The opening night performance will be the culmination of more than two months of hard work for the cast and crew. The cast has been learning lines and stage movements since the second week of school. The Porter Players routinely rehearse 12 to 15 hours each week.

The 32-member crew has also been busy creating the set and many props and the lighting for the performance. Crew members are A.J. Biondo, Zac Bruin, Marilyn Budz, Frankie Cacciao, Jared Carson, Melissa Chicola, Jonquil Cristofaro, Jess Czuba, David Disegne, Daniel Flynn, Will Flynn and Ally Gorecki.

Also Gino Gumino, David Handzik, Olivia Ing, Berin Kamm, Emily Moritz, Kennedy Musich, Val Nagel, Mari Noga, Sarah Pindak, Mat Piotrowski, Marisa Ponschke, Michelle Price, Katie Ptaszek, Stephanie Roberts, Mary Schuttler, Mandy Subka, Brett Van Dyke, Molly Voves, Coty Waldvogel and David West.

Karen Schopf serves as the assistant director of the production and Ken Frykholm is the technical director and designer. Matt Granger, the production’s newest faculty member, is the music director.

“The production team is a very creative group of individuals,” Gilbert said. “Everyone brings his or her talents to theater.”

The Thursday through Saturday [Nov. 6-8] performances of “The Love of Three Oranges” begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The Sunday matinee on Nov. 9 will start at 2 p.m. with doors opening 30 minutes prior. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for non-Lockport students and $2 for children and senior citizens. There is no charge for Lockport Gold Card Club members and Lockport students with ID. All performances are held in Lockport Auditorium, 1333 E. 7th St.

For more information or to purchase tickets call the ticket office at (815) 588-8490.

WHAT: The Porter Players fall play — “The Love of Three Oranges”

WHERE: Lockport Township High School, 1333 E. 7th St. in Lockport, in the East campus auditorium

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 6, Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m.

HOW MUCH: $5 for adults, $4 for non-Lockport students and $2 for children and senior citizens