Actor Henry Ulrich dug the idea of one special suggested rehearsal for Columbus East High School’s production of the dark comedy “Holes”: to literally practice shoveling dirt well before the opening of the show marked by serious sifting and separating in a dried-out lake bed at a disciplinary youth camp.
“I said pretty early on that we needed to actually go out and dig a couple holes in our yards or somewhere,” said Ulrich, who plays the lead character of Stanley, sent to Texas’ Camp Green Lake in the dark comedy that runs Friday through Sunday at East’s Clarence E. Robbins Auditorium on South Marr Road. “I said, ‘We need to start method acting, guys.’
“… We really wanted to lean toward realism to get the audience immersed in the story.”
Ulrich and the cast will indeed be doing some real digging onstage, though with a synthetic, corncob-like material instead of dirt for the show. The actor confessed, that, with a high school resume marked by success, he’s had to stretch a bit to connect to a character supposedly sent for summer reform because of stealing a par of shoes.
“I generally try to stay out of the (principal’s) office,” Ulrich said.
Those marketing the play have discovered that large numbers of area youth and adults already are familiar with novelist’s Louis Sachar’s award-winning book and play — one that was made into a well-known 2003 Disney movie starring Shia LaBeouf.
In the story, Stanley soon uncovers the story of his family curse and a hidden treasure.
Director Kevin Welsh taught the book while leading classes at Central Middle School several years ago. He is especially pleased that his cast is presenting a special dress rehearsal for a group of local fifth- through seventh-graders Thursday at East. Welsh said not only do middle schoolers often have no opportunity to see live theater, he also has found a good number of high schoolers, including seniors, who never have witnessed a live play.
“A lot of the field trip-type activities have gone away,” he said. “And I think it’s just sad and wrong that there are so many students who never have seen live theater.”
Welsh loves the idea that the show goes deep enough to ask a question worthy of pondering, no matter a person’s age. He summarized it succinctly: “Do you create your own fate and destiny?”
Welsh is happy to have a production that a teen cast readily can connect with because of teen characters.
“The availability of scripts really relevant to young people and designed to be performed by young people still is fairly new,” Welsh said, pointing out that such works hardly existed when he was a student. “When I was in high school, all the shows that were really popular were written and designed to be performed by adults. And that often means there is language that will have to be cut.”
Kayci Clapp plays Kate, a one-room school teacher. She read the novel as a middle schooler. Plus, she was part of a group of students who watched the Disney movie together a few months ago.
She also is among students who began shaping her own personal destiny a few years ago, laying step-by-step plans to eventually study forensic science in college year after next. No fate thrust upon her in any way, as Stanley wrestles with. In fact, Clapp’s character is quite a bit like herself.
“Kate consciously chooses how she reacts (to situations) and what she makes of it,” Clapp said. “For me, the biggest challenge (of the role) is following her changing attitude and personality.”
About the play
What: Columbus East High School’s presentation of the dark comedy “Holes.”
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Where: East’s Clarence E. Robbins Auditorium 230 S. Marr Road.
Tickets: columbuseasths.seatyourself.biz.
