See How Modern Millie Is In High School Show

Tap-a-tap-tap. Tap-a-tap-tap. Tap-a-tap-tap-kick.

So what makes the rhythmic tap-a-tap-tap with a kick?

Tap shoes on the feet of stenographers in an office secretarial pool, of course.

Harken back to the ‘20s, the 1920s, and meet young women with their modern, bobbed hair and flapper-style dresses and an old-fashioned boss.

The  Drama Club will present “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” which Drama Director Bridget Scholnick described as “a send-up of clichés of the '20’s,” at the end of this month.

In rehearsal Thursday after school, a group of stenographers and their boss, Trevor Graydon, played by senior Troy Welton, worked on the musical timing in a scene where Graydon/Welton directs them to “Take a Letter.”

Graydon is old-fashioned, where other characters are modern, explained Welton.

Welton has never performed a work set in the “Roaring 20s,” he said. Welton took to the high school stage his freshman year. He played Maurice, Belle’s father, in “Beauty and the Beast” that year; Roger in “Grease” sophomore year; and, last year, Horton the Elephant in “Seussical.”

He described the time period of “Millie” as “energetic.”

“Luckily,” he quipped, “I do not have to tap dance.”

Dance instructor Belinda Smith helped the cast with their footwork.

Senior Laura Plona, who plays Millie, and has studied tap dancing for 13 years; said she helped with the show’s choreography.

Plona had to learn physical comedy for some office scenes, noted Scholnick, who also teaches English at the high school.

In a “modern” way, Millie sets her sights on her boss, intending to marry for money, not love, according to a show synopsis.

“Even serious parts (of the show) are funny,” Plona said.

Plona said she loves the period music of the show, which she described as vaudeville old jazz.

She, like Welton, has appeared in WMHS productions for three prior years.

The other two leads are played by Karine Nakayassu, a senior and Michael Gobiel, a junior, Scholnick said.

About 45 students are involved in the production, Scholnick said, as cast and crew.

The curtain will rise on “Millie” on Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29.

The show will start at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. That’s half an hour earlier than in years past, Scholnick said.

Tickets are available at the door the nights of the show and, Scholnick said, in advance at the high school and from Drama Club members. They are $10 per person, $8 per senior citizen and student. Children age 6 and under are free.

During Thursday’s rehearsal, WMHS Choral Director ran the students through their vocal paces.

At the piano sat the man who had directed 45 years of high school shows before Gilbertie: Robert Hodgson. As he has at rehearsals, Hodgson will provide piano accompaniment for the performances.