Musical Comedy "13" Entertains Large Crowds at WHS

Thomas Lynch is the drama teacher at Woodbridge High School who directed this year's senior play, "13," which continues with performances this weekend. It is a senior play, but only by title, Lynch said.

"It's a school musical that anyone could try out for. Some proceeds benefit the senior class, but it is a musical for the whole school," he said. The play did indeed seem to involve the entire school. Students showed unbelievable coordination and teamwork in both their acting talent and their perfectly in-sync choreographed dance moves.

The play "13" is about a Jewish boy, Evan Goldman, who moved from the Big Apple to the state of Indiana. Evan, like any teenage boy, is trying to start his life all over again in a new school by trying to fit in and make new friends. In addition to the new home and school he has to adjust to, Evan has to have a Bar Mitzvah celebration to signal the coming of his adulthood.

Throughout the musical, Evan desperately tries to fit in and make the right decisions. He is constantly caught in between the "popular" crowd, and two "outcasts," Patrice and her terminally ill best friend, Archie.

 "The show "13" wasn't commercially successful in New York, but I had seen it a few times and thought it was really good," said Lynch. Despite the lack of success in New York, Lynch still wanted "13" as this year's musical comedy, and it sure was a great choice. Each comedic dialogue received a cheerful, hearty laughs from the audience members, and each musical number received an endless round of applause. Thirty-four student actors worked in front of the footlights, while 15 to 20 students were helping out backstage.

The best and most realistic part of the show is that the high schoolers get to play characters who are close to their age. Last year the high school presented "How to Succeed in Business," and the year before that it presented, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," but in both of these plays, the students had to play characters who were much older than themselves.

"This play gives our teenagers a chance to play teenagers," said Lynch.

Lynch praised his students' hard work and dedication. "A few of this year's cast had been in past plays but none had played leads so in this year's play. It is really exciting to see them play leads," Lynch said.

If you haven't gotten a chance to check out the wonderful talent at Woodbridge High School in this year's musical comedy, you still can! Performances continue Saturday night at 7:30 pm, followed by a noontime matinee on Sunday.