TOWNSEND — This year, Townsend Recreation added a modern twist to its annual summer play.
“Once Upon A…” promises to add humor to classic fairy tales.
Directors Anna Makrianis and Caroyln Farley have been working with six students for about two months to create new monologues and scripts of classics such as “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” “Cinderella,” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
“We like to call them fractured fairytales,” said Makrianis, who has been co-director of the program for three years.
This is the first year students were able to give their input and use creativity to write their own monologues with the help of the directors.
“We got to be creative, which was really fun, we also got to be original,” said Pepperell resident Lauren Pick, 17.
The young Theatrecs cast has been practicing improv and ad-libbing in their skits. In past shows directors would pick a play and students would be given a script to practice. This year, it is a self-created show.
“I feel like it’s been easier for students. I’ve seen faster memorization because they are writing most of the scripts themselves,” said Makrianis.
“I liked how we would be able to add ideas to it, we got to make it our own,” said Shealagh Sullivan,13.
The revised skit puts Goldilocks on trial for entering the three bears home. The audience is the jury and ultimately chooses if Goldilocks is guilty of unlawful entry into the three bears house.
“Many of these monologues and skits are about what happens after the happily ever after,” said Farley.
The play is on Friday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m. at Memorial Hall. Tickets are $5 for adults and children under 5 get in for free.
— Kelly Carrion
