Georgia Willats and Jack Redpath star as the leads in this year’s production
Last year, it’s fair to say, was not a good year to host a school musical.
Covid-19 hit Cambridge High School’s 2020 Jesus Christ, Superstar production effort hard: shifting schedules, and prompting cancellations—and meaning the final performance could only be videotaped.
For the year 12 leads in last year’s musical, the slew of postponements was “quite heart-breaking,” said Peter Cook, the director.
But those then year 12s, now year 13s are (fingers crossed) still getting a chance to perform a full musical in front of a live audience this month, in the school’s rendition of the Addams family.
CHS typically schedules biennial productions; this year, it made an exception to ensure the school’s musical theatre students still had a chance to showcase their talents.
“It’s their second go at it… it’s a lovely way to round off their years at school,” Cook said.
“For Jack [Redpath, the lead in both Jesus Christ and the Addams family], I was just so happy to see him win that second lead role.”
Year 13s like Redpath, as well as Leo Martens-Stockdale, Sophie Horgan, Sean Hapi, and Mira Huebeck, who participated in last year’s production, are also starring in this year’s—and after a two year wait, they’re certainly ready to put on a show.
The Addams family is a gothic comedy whose upbeat, funny tone—the cast hopes—will be an anecdote to covid-induced depression. “Covid got us down as a group,” Cook said. “The Addams family is the opposite of that, and many in the audience will recognise the odd one-liner from the days of the TV show.”
This year’s show is directed by Cook, with musical direction by Jayne Tankersley, and choreography by Minette Ferreira. The production effort is drawing on strengths from across the school—technology classes have built torture chambers, while art classes have sculpted gravestones.
The show is designed to be immersive, with a set that Cook hopes will take the audience on a journey into the Addams family mansion.
The Addams Family will run from June 23 to 26. Tickets are available now and can be purchased at camhigh.school.nz.
