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Ottawa Citizen

St. Mother Teresa presented a 'brilliantly executed' production of The Play That Goes Wrong

Article content Alexander James, who plays the flippant but endearing Cecil Haversham, conveyed a dynamic and enthusiastic performance. James's passionate delivery of an over-the-top attention-seeking actor enhanced the delightfully chaotic performance. Cecil's exaggerated, childlike expressions were consistently maintained throughout the performance, and the role's physically demanding slapstick movements and comedic actions were executed with remarkable ease, seamlessly adding to the character's charm and humour. Alongside Cecil, Charlie Nowak Bella delivered an incredible performance as Florence Colleymoore, the melodramatic and demanding widow of Charles Haversham (Vinny McMillan), the unfortunate murder victim of Haversham Manor. Nowak Bella embodied Florence's poise and elegance by capturing her exaggerated posh accent and aristocratic flair. Each ensemble member personified their character's quirks, from Chris's edgy demeanor to Annie's quiet yet unexpectedly competitive nature; the acting showcased remarkable talent. Article content Article content Article content The Cornley Drama Society Stage Crew wholeheartedly embraced the chaos within the play through their steadfast commitment to the humour and spontaneity of the mishaps, which contributed to the layers of comedy and elevated the absurdity of the performance. Article content Every action was impeccably performed, spotlighting the blunders that added fuel to the chaos and frenzy of the play. As the performance continued, a marvellous but accident-prone set, designed by The Nearly Nailed It set team, went down in shambles as the cast performed. The paintings, props, and decor were meticulously designed to collapse at the precise moment, enhancing the show's impeccable comedic timing. The manor also perfectly reflected the sophistication of the 1920s, with intricately crafted features of the crest above the main door entrance and antique wallpaper on the walls. The revolving bookcase was discreetly hidden, and the portable grandfather clock was impressively robust, especially as it held the unconscious Florence Colleymoore. Article content Article content St. Mother Teresa High School delivered a riotously entertaining production of The Play That Goes Wrong (High School Edition), proving that humour can indeed thrive in the realm of absurdity! Article content The St. Mother Teresa High School production was reviewed by 33 critics representing 8 schools. The critic discussions were mentored by teacher Natalie Simard of Merivale High School and student reviews were edited and selected for publication by teacher Rebeca Ricardo of St. Francis Xavier High School, who could see only the reviews, not the names or schools of the reviewers. Article content The Citizen and 23 high schools are participating in the Cappies, a Washington, program that uses high school critics to review high school theatre. The program is a unique partnership between the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Two schools from other boards in the region and two private schools have also joined. The Cappies season culminates with an awards Gala in June graciously hosted by the National Arts Centre. Follow Canada's Capital Cappies on Instagram @OttawaCappies. Article content