If a pirate crew storms your ship, takes your treasure and then breaks into a rousing rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” to celebrate, you’d likely have more than a few questions. And yet, that’s exactly what happens as “An Act of Piracy” comes to the Marathon High School stage this Friday through Sunday, Nov. 11-13.
A play within a play, the show follows a luckless band of actors led by Lord Cranbury (Casey Horvat). Thrown out of their most recent performance venue by innkeeper Joanna Huxley (Zyan Wiggins), the traveling troupe can’t seem to catch a break. It would help if they weren’t woefully unqualified to be on stage – one with crippling stage fright, another who can’t learn lines to save his life, and a third with a knack for changing the script onstage, to name just a few. And in an age when women aren’t allowed to act, Cranbury is blissfully unaware that many of his “men” aren’t being entirely forthcoming about their true identities.
In a last-ditch effort to revitalize his thespians, Cranbury decides to put on a show about pirates and takes his merry band on the high seas for some real-life “research.” But when the crew of the newly-christened “Forth Wall” (get it?) cross paths with real-life buccaneer Reagan O’Flynn (Cecilia Vang) and pirate hunter Jean Francois De La Haute-Valois (Nicholas Higgins), they soon discover that the ocean is full of very real danger, and what began as an experiential voyage turns into a desperate attempt to escape Davy Jones’ locker.
Filled with comedic blunders, the fall show is directed by drama club mainstay Carollyn Cox, with Higgins additionally serving as student director. Working through what Cox described as a “rebuilding year,” the cast has seen a few experienced upperclassmen take on new leadership roles as a large number of younger actors and newcomers step into critical roles in “An Act of Piracy.”
“This is (Higgins’) second show, and I wish we got him years ago,” said Cox. “He’s got a really good eye, and he’s been my right hand.”
“He gives 100% every single day on set,” said senior classmate Riley McDonald. “He does the accent, he knows his lines. I think it rubs off on people when you see someone from day one going the extra mile.”
Behind the scenes, senior stage manager Maicon Santos has the technical aspects of the show on lock. With tech whizzes Dante Senmartin and Leo Volchek lost to graduation in 2022, Santos’ tireless efforts have fulfilled a critical need backstage.
“He’s been here I can’t even tell you how many hours a day, ahead of everyone else,” said Cox. “He’s here early, he’s here late, he’s here every study hall that he has.”
With eight weeks of rehearsal under their belts, the stage and high seas are set to bring to life a show that, in McDonald’s words “exemplifies the female spirit.” Showtime is 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. General admission tickets are $10 at the door or can be purchased by scanning the attached QR code. And if you plan to make your way to the auditorium this weekend, carry senior Billy Martin’s recommended backup plan:
“Bring an extra change of pants.”
