Lights, stage, action: Local youth to present own version of "The Princess and the Pea"

The Saratoga-Encampment Drama Club is ready to entertain audiences with its own take on the classic tale, “The Princess and the Pea.”

The production, retitled “The Pea Test: The Real Story of the Princess and the Pea,” includes Saratoga and Encampment youth from seventh through 12th grade. Volunteer directors include Wendy Barkhurst, Greg Bush and Gayle Wessel. Barkhurst said everyone has a great time rehearsing their own rendition of the fairytale at the Platte Valley Community Center each weeknight.

“We kind of threw in a mix of different versions of The Princess and the Pea, and we turned it into our own version,” she said. “We have around 22 kids between seventh and 12th grade. Some kids aren’t actually acting, but instead helping backstage with running curtains and doing set, or helping run lights. This has been our fourth or fifth year doing these productions.”

Barkhurst said creating a new twist on “The Princess and the Pea” has been the best part of rehearsals, and that the kids have helped contribute to make the script funnier and more entertaining. For example, in what is supposed to be a entirely formal dance scene, the kids break into popular South Korean rapper PSY’s “Gangnam Style.” For another funny twist, romantic lead Gale Jackson goes by “Prince Penelope,” while his lady Kaylyn Wessel goes by “Princess Fred.”

“We took a couple of different versions they liked, and the kids made them what they wanted out of it,” Barkhurst said. “It helped them have ownership in it, to take bits and pieces from one script or version and morph or add it with another. It gives the kids a lot of ownership and pride, and it makes it more their own and more fun for them. A lot of the older kids had done that with productions in the past, where they got to create what they wanted it to be.”

In addition to the funny inclusions, Barkhurst said she also gave the kids freedom on stage with blocking, actions and songs, in order to let them and the production feel more natural.

“We do feel like this play is their own and like it’s kind of student-directed by all of them,” she said. “They’ve had a lot to do with it, and we tried to guide them more than just tell them what to do. We’ve mostly just tried to guide them along and give them a lot of ownership in it.”

Barkhurst said auditions for the “Princess and the Pea” took place in Saratoga and Encampment at the end of January, and that rehearsals began the last week of March.

“We have a great group of kids, who are all really talented and have good, bright futures in theater, and it has been fun to watch and see them morph into the character they’re trying to develop,” Barkhurst said. “It’s also interesting because we had kids at the beginning during auditions who would hardly talk to us, and were nervous and scared. Some never thought of doing anything like this, so to see them get up on stage and dance, have fun and have a really good time has been great for us. It has been really fun to watch some develop from shy little things to doing solos on stage and other things they never thought they’d do.”

Barkhurst said she made sure that all who auditioned had a part in the play.

“We had to write in some parts, but that’s okay because we didn’t want to turn anyone away,” she said. “We wanted to give everyone a chance and make sure everyone had an opportunity if they wanted it. It’s more of a thing for the entire community, and any kids who wanted to do it could. It’s a pretty big commitment too, since the rehearsals are a couple of hours each weeknight and kids are dealing with speech, track, art, music, FCCLA and other stuff during the spring. Although it has been hard to have everyone here consistently, the kids have put in a lot of time, and their parents have been good to let us borrow them like this.”

Barkhurst said about half of their kids are from last year, and half of them are new. She noted that several of the kids and seventh- and eighth-graders getting started in community theater.

“We have a lot of young kids this year who are just starting, and we hope they’ll want to continue with it,” Barkhurst said. “In the future, we hope to have a really strong program with a lot of kids, and a lot of new ones finding out about it.”

Alyssa Barkhurst, who plays the queen, said she enjoyed being in the show and getting out of her comfort zone at each rehearsal.

“In the show you get to jump outside your element, and it’s lots of fun,” she said. “It was fun doing that first performance rehearsal when you really get out there. Being behind the scenes is also fun.”

Othila Vaillette, who plays the Wizard, said she enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships made with the other actors.

“My favorite part is being at practice and hanging out with friends, and making snide comments and smirks that everyone will laugh at,” she said.

Kyle Wessel, who plays the king, gave away a “spoiler alert” with his favorite part of rehearsing the show.

“My favorite part is finally talking at the end,” he said. “I’m a mute the entire time because there’s a curse on me, but by the end I finally get it lifted and get to talk a little bit.”

The group has a dress rehearsal planned at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Platte Valley Community Center.