80’s classic still a hit
Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter
After three years of persistence Curtis Reid finally got his wish. Reid, a Strathmore High School drama student, had bugged his drama instructor Paula Richardson about putting on a production of the popular ‘80s movie The Breakfast Club’.
“I said no cause I though it was just a little too edgy. He asked me again last year, in Grade 11, I said no again. In Grade 12 he bugged me again, he never relented and I said ok I will talk to my principal, and my principal said ‘yeah ok if you soften it a little here and there, go for it’,” said Richardson.
There have been changes made to the script to make it more appropriate. Richardson said the kids were full of suggestions and input as to how things could be changed a little, but still keep it close to the original script. Things like the case of beer were changed to Gatorade and a lot of the heavy swearing was taken out.
Even though it’s a hit from the ‘80s there is still something the kids can relate to in the characters. “They have been really dedicated on this show because they absolutely love the characters. It’s the same conundrums, its still the same peer pressure, the same parents don’t understand, its all the same issues,” said Richardson.
“One of the hardest things with this show was because it changes locations so much and they travel so far around the school and we cant do that here so we’ve had to shrink things a little and try to utilize our space a little more.”
This was the last big production for the year being done by the senior drama club students. The students who were cast in roles still had to audition, and the lights and scenery were taken care of by other students also in the club. The show ran from May 29 to June 2. Not as many tickets were sold as hoped for, but there were still about 30 to 40 people in the audience the first four showings, and it jumped up to between 50 and 75 for the last two. On the final night of the show, the actors received a standing ovation from the crowd.