The Community Home School Players, a group of home-schooled theater enthusiasts, will perform their rendition of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” on March 27 and 28 at Twin Valley Middle School.
Director Megan Pupek, who graduated in 2006 from the same group, says this year’s cast is the smallest it has been, and the show is sure to be a comedic hit.
“We chose the play because our group of kids is exceptional at comedies,” said Pupek. “Because the cast is so small this year, with only eight members, we decided to do something different and go back in time to something more old school. We had the opportunity to do something as a smaller cast that gives you a closer dynamic.”
The group will hold evening performances on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and a matinee on Saturday at 2 p.m.
“The Importance of Being Earnest,” also dubbed “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” is a farce written by Oscar Wilde that tells the story of characters who take on fake personae to escape the responsibility to partake in social norms. Set in Victorian London, it addresses triviality and conventions in Victorian society.
“The play has very few characters,” said Pupek. “The cast members can play off of each other a lot more, and they all get more stage time. I am really excited to see how the smaller cast can dominate the stage with a play like this. From rehearsals, they are doing a phenomenal job. I can’t wait to see how they grow in the next couple weeks before the performance.”
The Community Home School Players, a group that formed in 2001, is an off-shoot of The Community Home Schoolers, a group that meets once a week to ensure that home-schooled students are able to partake in electives like art, music and theater.
“Jana Willis started it, and she was my director when I was involved,” said Pupek. “She has a very firm background in theater, and she decided to throw a play and see how the kids liked it. It went great, and we’ve been doing this ever since.”
Pupek says that because the students spend a lot of time at home, it is a wonderful way to provide them with community involvement and the opportunity to build relationships.
“It provides an amazing sense of community, and it really helps them to get in touch with another group of kids,” she said. “It also brings a lot of families together to share resources, and the students are able to experience what it’s like being part of a school and part of a group. They get real life application and real life experiences with different people, and they get to feel a part of something.”
In the past, the group has performed a variety of plays including “The Three Musketeers,” “Get Smart” and “You Can’t Take It With You.”
Cast List:Algernon: Val Mokrejs, grade 11, Elverson
Jack: Geoff Burkholder, grade 12, Elverson
Gwendolyn: Hedy Gerace, grade 12, Birdsboro
Cecily: Maggie Lauer, grade 12, Morgantown
Lord Bracknell: Nicholas Eberly, grade 10, Elverson
Dr. Chasuble: Sam Leamer, grade 12, Elverson
Miss Prism: Mary Lauer, grade 11, Morgantown
Lane/Merriman: Kaleb Musser, grade 10, Mohnton
Sets are Kathryn Burkholder and Katie Schwartz. Costumes are by Andi Colmery. Hair and Makeup is Autumn Jackins.
Prior to this year’s play, The Home School Players and their families will be selling Twin Valley Coffee as part of a fundraiser. A portion of the sales will go to their group, and any family that is able to sell 25 or more bags of coffee will receive a family pass to the play.
Tickets for the upcoming play will be sold at the door.
