By Claire Fishman & Laura Platero

For the third performance of Sock ‘n’ Buskin’s 50th anniversary year, the cast of Noises Off has put together a farcical comedy that is sure to delight and entertain the Council Rock community.

In order to successfully execute this fast-paced play, the actors are required to constantly be in motion: entering and exiting the stage, rotating the set, changing costumes, and exchanging props often with mere seconds to accomplish these tasks.

Since Noises Off is “a play within a play,” it follows a group of actors putting on a show, with Act I chronicling the rehearsals leading up to opening night and Act II depicting the actors performing their unfinished play as well as showing the backstage chaos.

Moreover, the play’s director, Sandy Chantry, who has been the Theater Director at Council Rock North for many years, will be retiring this year, making this performance even more special. The community will definitely not want to miss this production, set to charm audiences on February 22nd, 23rd, and 24th at 7pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $8 for students, $12 for adults.

We got together with the cast and crew and below are some excerpts from our interviews with them:

How would you describe Noises Off to those who are not familiar with it?
Senior Maddy McCloskey: “It’s about a group of actors rehearsing a play, but in the eleventh hour of rehearsal they still can’t seem to get it right. In the second half of the show, you seem them perform what they rehearsed poorly and chaos ensues. Misplaced props, love triangles, costumes falling off, and people falling down flights of stairs make this show hilarious.”

How long did it take to put the show together?
Senior Mike Yost: “The shows that get put on in the winter have more time restraints than the fall plays or spring musicals do. The already-shortened rehearsal schedule, with snow days added onto that, created a challenge and made this play much more difficult to put on. However, I think my cast mates would agree that, regardless of the strict rehearsal schedule, the show is going to be as good, if not better, than any show you’ve seen Sock ‘n’ Buskin perform.”

How has the experience been working on Noises Off?
Senior Sophia Amodei: “I have loved working on the show. It’s been so rewarding seeing the progress of this difficult show over the past weeks. I love the cast, and rehearsing has been so much fun!”

What is your take on the play, as the Stage Manager?
Sophomore Paige Suthard: “It’s definitely a funny, silly show. It incorporates silly humor in it, but also very smart humor; it’s something that you have to really understand. It’s just very clever and it’s a wonderful opportunity to be doing this. This show is definitely something I think people will enjoy, especially the people who come and see our shows regularly because it’s a lot different than most shows we’ve done.”

What significance does the set play in the show?
Senior Maddy McCloskey: “The set is huge! It’s two stories with four flights of stairs and multiple functioning doors and windows; it just adds so much to… the show. Slamming doors and breaking windows are all….in Noises Off. Plus, during Act Two, the whole set spins around. It’s truly amazing that the students built it themselves.”

How is Noises Off different from other CRN plays?
Senior Mike Yost: “Noises Off is unlike any show Sock ‘n’ Buskin has produced. The farc[ical] nature of the play creates quite chaotic scenes on stage that are guaranteed to make you laugh. [Props such as] doors, sardines, bags, and boxes all make the show hilarious.”

What is the best quality of the show in your opinion?
Senior Sophia Amodei: “The show is hilarious. Even while performing it, it’s hard for me not to laugh.”

By Amanda Stone

Ever since Prince Harry announced his engagement to American actress Meghan Markle in November 2017, fans have been asking when the big day would arrive. And on February 11, we got our answer. Kensington Palace released the details via Twitter and fans have never been more excited.  Here are the details and scheduled festivities of the special day.
 

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding with take place on May 19th (Saturday)  at 12pm GMT (7am EST in the United States)
• The wedding ceremony will take place at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, will be officiated by the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
• The newlyweds will leave Windsor Castle in a carriage and travel along High Street through the town of Windsor before returning to the castle by the Long Walk, according to the Palace. Windsor is some 40 km (25 miles) west of central London.
• The couple will then attend a reception along with fellow guests at St. George’s Hall prior to a private evening celebration held by Prince Charles, Harry’s father.

 
It has not yet been announced if the wedding will be televised, but it is expected to be. If it is televised, it is expected that over 100 million people will watch from all over the world.
 
The day will be wonderful and also very historic as Meghan Markle will be the first American princess in the Royal Family.