Theatre Production ‘Everybody’ Opening Friday, May 10
The theatre department here at Mt. Hood is gearing up for another Spring Term performance, “Everybody,” opening Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. In anticipation, I chatted with a couple of the actors in the play about what makes this show a special treat.
They explained that Everybody is a play that welcomes the energy of chaos into the fiber of the performance. There are several roles, shared between 16 actors (including understudies). There is a lottery process that happens each night and so the actors have learned several roles, knowing they might be called to play a completely different part in each show.
Although tradition dictates that the “somebody” roles are picked on stage while the audience watches, MHCC’s 2024 version has multiple lottery systems intermingling to decide who plays what. Zach Hartley was overheard describing using some fuzzy math which led to him to conclude there are approximately 79 different combinations possible, but only six of those will be realized during the two weekends the show is performed at Mt. Hood.
To make sure everyone in the theatre troupe gets a chance to perform after all that work of learning multiple roles, there will even be a night dedicated to the understudies so that their memorizing and practicing can be shown off to their friends and family, too.
Julia Stanley explained about the role-juggling, “I am playing “Somebody D” every night, with the chance to play one of the four virtues, (which) are Strength, Beauty, Mind, and [the] Five Senses.”
As with all productions, Stanley noted that “we have a lot going on behind the scenes” and said the backstage contributors are just as important as the actors. She credits set designers, light designers, costume designers, prop designers, social media managers, the stage manager, assistant stage managers, technicians, and Theatre Department leader and show Director Zach Hartley for making the team experience unforgettable.
One of those understudies, Leo Decklar, said “We get to do a skeli dance, and I think that’s pretty fun.” Decklar explained that a skeli dance is a group of dancing skeletons, and is delighted that the play includes a character called ‘Evil.’
Among other highlights are some technical challenges. Standley said, “We’re going to have a technician push our grave out of the set and back in. There is also a hidden shelf and a little trap door.” To find out more about these props, one needs to watch the play unfold.
Meantime, the lottery process will ensure a different show is performed each night, so audience members can see it multiple times and experience unique performances.
Community Editor. Interim News Editor / A&E Editor
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