Printer Friendly Version - ‘Picnic’ Plays at Branford High School Nov. 20, 21, 23

Branford High School (BHS) presents William Inge’s celebrated coming-of-age story, Picnic, during three performances in the Cathyann Roding Auditorium at BHS, 185 East Main Street. A cast of 15 student players (see next photos) are ready for audiences attending three shows at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, Thursday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 23. General admission seating is $5 at the door. Pam Johnson/The Sound

Alex Lenox, playing Hal Carter, and Jake Shumway as Alan Seymour, in a scene from Branford High School’s fall play, William Inge’s “Picnic.” Pam Johnson/The Sound

Lillian Rank, as Madge Owens, Nellie Benson, as Flora Owens, and Shay Barrett, as Millie Owens in a scene from Branford High School’s fall play, William Inge’s “Picnic.” Pam Johnson/The Sound

With it’s fenced-in feel, Branford High School (BHS) presents William Inge’s celebrated coming-of-age story, Picnic, during three performances in the Cathyann Roding Auditorium at BHS, 185 East Main Street. The curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, Thursday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 23. General admission seating is $5 at the door.

The production is directed by Maria Ogren, a retired BHS AP English teacher who has been directing BHS fall drama productions for some 50 years. Set in Kansas in 1953, the play opened on Broadway in that same year, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, with Paul Newman as an original cast member, Ogren noted.

“What I like about this play is that it’s about teenagers at a time that, artistically and musically, defined what it is to be a teenager - the 1950’s. The four young people in this drama are making those life-decisions that will determine their lives,” said Ogren. “There’s also that wonderful old trope - a stranger comes to town, and life starts changing for everybody; as he brings in a sense of a world that hasn’t yet encroached on any of them in any real way.”

Ogren and assistant director, BHS English teacher John Matthiessen, have been working with this student cast and crew since early September.

Members of the BHS Picnic cast (with roles in paranthesis) are: seniors Shay Barrett (Millie Owens), Italia Bruno (Alvah Jackson), Jake Coveyduck (Howard Bevans), Alex Lenox (Hal Carter), Isabella Gohar (Irma Kronkite), and Morgan Hackley (Rosemary Sydney); juniors Lillian Rank (Madge Owens), Ginger Fitzpatrick (Christine Schoenwalder), and Conor Gilfeather (Bomber/Wolfie Junior); sophomores Jake Shumway (Alan Seymour), Nellie Benson (Flora Owens), Matthew Lenox (Bomber/Spike); and freshmen DJ Hooks (Chick Jones), Nadya Jones (Helen Potts), and Jenna Medina (Old Mrs. Potts).

Working with BHS choir director Mike Martone and Ogren on the set construction crew were seniors Finnegan Earnshaw and Ariel Rodriguez; sophomore Keegan Dingus, and local volunteers Peter Bocciarelli, Jean Estrom, Joe Copes, and Mike Giordano.

Stage crew members are senior Mia DeLuci and juniors Joey Arcangelo, Noah Fischer and Max Perez. Costuming is done by Nettie Rank.