A chorus of laughter echoed through Tang Theatre last Wednesday evening as a student acting as a cow let out a series of exaggerated moos, each one immediately translated by a robotic, Siri-like voice. The absurd yet unexpectedly moving moment captured the playful, layered tone of “Sometimes the Rain, Sometimes the Sea,” the first staged reading of the term by the THD 911 class.
Built around exploring multiple texts in one term, THD911 opts for multiple staged readings rather than fully-fleshed-out productions. Performer Marti Wong ’28 explained the fast paced nature of the class and how it grants creative freedom to its students.
“A staged reading is where we take a play and don’t fully stage it like a typical theater production. Instead, we deliver a vocal performance without many of the physical aspects and read out the stage directions for what we would have done. This allows us to do multiple productions within the term and broadens the outlook for the course,” said Wong.
He added, “It was very student-led, but Mr. Grimm was always there to support us. During our first read-throughs, it’s an open dialogue where we stop and ask each other questions, which allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the text,” said Wong.
Performer Allison Lee ’28 explained how the class allowed them to explore different areas of theater performance, experimenting with a variety of characters and roles.
“I came into theater with a background in tech, so I really enjoyed working on that aspect, even though it was basic by necessity. But my favorite part was definitely the preliminary reading process. It’s so fun to just pick up a scene and read it, choosing whichever character seems fun. We had the chance to experiment with different interpretations, and each person could portray the same character in unique ways. I got to read almost every character in the play, even though I only played Rommel,” said Lee.
Rehearsals for the production began roughly three weeks before the performance. During this time, students worked through the script together in class, taking on both acting and technical responsibilities. Benedict Dwyer ’28, who played Dolan, reflected on the intensity of preparing the show in such a short period.
“It’s a kind of experimental format for a class at Andover. It’s halfway between a literary interpretation and play-reading course and a full-fledged performance course. We get together, read through a bunch of material at breakneck pace, and talk about it. It’s really dependent on the group you get, and everyone in THD 911 this term was just so good to work with. The one word I’d use to describe the rehearsal process is hectic. We were working on it until about 30 minutes before the show. That kind of structure is scary and exhausting, but it also gives you so much adrenaline,” said Dwyer.
The audience responded warmly throughout the evening, laughing at recurring jokes and leaning in as the play’s narrative unfolded. Alex Lin ’28, who attended the performance, shared the important role the audience holds for theatre.
“The main thing [for the audience] is to pay attention and react to what’s happening. The cast mentioned afterward how nice it was to hear people laughing at the comedic moments. I guess that’s the role of any audience, not just for stage readings, providing that comedic support and helping the performers feel like they’re connecting with the audience,” said Lin. “A lot of people came, but the theater wasn’t full, which is probably because this is a new class, something experimental. It was an amazing experience though, so much fun. I’d recommend others check out the second show later in the term.”
Despite the fast pace, the cast collaborated closely to make the performance a reality. Performer Hannah Jung ’28 emphasized how each member contributed to different elements of the performance.
“Each of us took on different roles based on our individual backgrounds and experiences,” said Jung. “Allison [Lee ’28] worked a lot on the lighting, and I was the one handling the Bessie cow translations, which took several hours. Bonding with this small group of people has made the experience really special.”
THD 911 will present another staged reading on October 29, continuing its fast-paced, experimental approach to theater this term.
