See How They Run on Stage at Stratford High School

Mistaken identity! Drunken mishaps! An escaped spy! And that’s just the first act of See How They Run, the fall theatrical production presented by the Stratford Drama Society in the school’s John F. Kennedy Memorial Auditorium on Friday, Nov. 17 and Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. both days. All seats reserved: $14. Visit https://sites.google.com/stratk12.org/stratforddrama/home for more information and to purchase tickets.

See How They Run is a British comedy in three acts by Philip King. It is considered a farce for its tense comic situations and headlong humor, heavily playing on mistaken identity, doors, and vicars. The play is set shortly after the end of World War II in the living room of the vicarage at the fictitious village of Merton-cum-Middlewick. Resident nosy-parker and spinster, Miss Skillon, becomes convinced that her beloved vicar’s actress wife is having an affair and attempts to expose her. Add an escaped Soviet spy, a handsome actor turned soldier, the visiting Bishop of Lax, a second vicar and the local police sergeant and hilarious confusion and mayhem result.

The cast of See How They Run includes, from the senior class, Lauren Eyerman as Miss Skillon, Amelie McCool as The Bishop of Lax, Varrick Nelson, Jr. as Lionel Toop, and Margaret Schumann as Ida the Maid. Junior Kate Miller plays Penelope Toop and, rounding out the cast, are sophomores Zoe Baird as Sergeant Towers, Brennan Kelly as Corporal Clive Winton and Orchid Tejada as Reverend Humphrey.

Senior Eyerman said, “I like how unique the story is and how it incorporates a bunch of characters who are all very different from each other.”

Playing the role of an elderly bishop presented some challenges to McCool, who said: “My role is The Bishop of Lax. I made it my own by really being connected to it. Every time before I go on stage, I tell myself to be in the mindset of a grumpy old man and I think to myself, how would a grumpy man react to this. It is definitely a challenge for me because I am the complete opposite, but that’s what makes it fun.”

Senior Schumann also went to great efforts to make the role of Ida her own: “I made this role my own by really adding my own fire into it,” she said. “Ida is witty and sarcastic, but flirty at the same time, and I really love the several dimensions of her.”

As a senior, Nelson reflected on his experiences with the Stratford High School Drama Society: “To me, SHS Drama Society means community. Having people who are interested in the same things you are, and over time building connections with them for me is what SHS Drama Society means to me,” he said.

The production is co-produced by Kathleen Murphy and Jeff Leinen. Stage direction is by Kathleen Murphy and technical direction by Jeff Leinen. Costuming is by senior Margaret Schumann and junior Mina Fernandes and set design is by seniors Kelsey Welch and El Youngquist.

“SHS Drama Society means a place where I can come to be creative doing something I love, theater, while also getting to form some of my most treasured friendships with people I might not get the chance to be with otherwise,” Youngquist said.