Community Drama Club Performs “Rumpelstiltskin”

Taking the stage

Students combine drama and comedy for spring performance

From classic fairy tales to hilarious cooking competitions, the Community School’s drama club brought something for everyone at their most recent show.

Known as the Community Comets, the program was started two years ago by Principal Sarah McCracken, and led by teachers Ellena Augoustakis, Dara Lyons, and David Joyce. Bishop Feehan student Maia Kraskouskas also brought her considerable experience on stage to bear as a director.

“It’s been a great learning experience, said Augoustakis on May 24, the night of the performance. “I liked working with the kids.”

Each of the students in the drama club are in the fifth grade. Kraskouskas, who has been part of different drama clubs since the second grade, said she wished a program liked this was around when she was in elementary school.

“It gives you more confidence in life,” she said of the program.

The first show of the night was a retelling of the classic fairy tale, “Rumpelstiltskin.” The second was a silent drama called “Salon Da Maia,” in which customers at a salon get a few surprises, including some unexpected hairstyles. The final show was a comedic cooking competition, in which some unusual chef put their skills to the test to audience’s delight.

Olivia Meyer took on the role of Rumpelstiltskin, tricking the queen into giving up her first-born child unless she could guess the trickster’s name. Meyer said that in order to get into the role, she had to learn how to be bossy and mysterious.

“You never know where he’ll pop out of,” she said of the character.

Abigail Brown—the messenger in “Rumpelstiltskin”–said the cast was told that there are no small parts. At first, memorizing all the lines was a challenge, but with practice, they got better.

“We give a dedicated performance all the time,” she said.

Abby Woodbury, who was in the silent show, said the weeks of practice helped them to truly become the character.