The Little Prince Opens Tonight at RMHS

While all of the lead actors in the Reading High Drama Club’s adaptation of Antione de Saint-Exupery’s classic novella “The Little Prince” may be well-seasoned pros at performing on stage, having all appeared in numerous productions throughout their high school careers, the ensemble method director Natalie Cowell has chosen to employ for this play is a first for all of them.

Cowell, a 2003 graduate of RMHS, and an art teacher at Pope John Paul Academy in Dorchester, said that while it was a challenge at first, everyone has really stepped up and embraced it.

“We’ve focused a lot in this production on ensemble and being a group to create something,” said Cowell. “Initially, it was really hard to get comfortable with talking and using their bodies as a group, but we have 25 actors on stage who worked seamlessly with each other to make this happen, and we have really talented crew members that make it happen behind the scenes.”

The Little Prince opens at the RMHS Performing Arts Center tonight, at 7:30 p.m., and runs through Sunday.

The book, one of the most translated french works of all time, is ostensibly a children’s story, but features themes that are clearly geared towards adults as well, and, according to several of the actors, that is part of the story's appeal.

“The themes are all so universal,” said RMHS senior Chris Rose, who plays the title role of the blond haired Prince from asteroid B-612. “Things like finding yourself. It really suits everyone.”

Patrick Beckman, who mans the controls as "The Aviator," agreed.

“It’s very different,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

A senior, Beckman has been with the drama club since his freshman year.

The ensemble aspect, while something new for most of the cast, is also part of the appeal, and is especially effective in the scene where the character known as the aviator crashes into the Sahara Desert, as the entire cast teams up to become the shifting desert sands.

“I like the plane crash at the beginning,” said Erin McGovern, who plays the snake character. “All of the ensemble working together to make all of the sounds and the visual effect as well ... it kind of sums up our whole experience of The Little Prince, we’re all working together to make it.”

Caroline Norris, a senior, who plays the rose, a beautiful flower from the Prince’s home asteroid, said she loves her scene because it is “fun and quirky,” and said really enjoys playing that character.

Perhaps the coolest thing about the Reading High drama program, is the 100 percent hands-on aspect of the production. All jobs are done by students, from the acting on the stage to the lighting and sound. In fact, the director is almost the only non-student involved.

Technical Director Emily O'Sullivan, an RMHS junior, handles every aspect of the show from the tech booth at the rear of the performing arts center, and is essentially the top crew member below Cowell.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. While she hasn’t decided if this is something she would like to pursue post-high school, should she choose to, Reading High is undoubtedly standing her in good stead for the pursuit of such a career.

Make sure you get yourself down to Reading High this weekend and check out the play, as from just a few minutes of a dress rehearsal it is clear that this is not one to be missed.

Opening night is this evening at 7:30, and the play will go all weekend.

Its been amazing, we’re very lucky,” said Cowell. “Here we have very talented and committed students. They’ve made my life very easy, and we’ve only had a month of rehearsals.”