It's a professional development day away from Sechelt's Chatelech Secondary School, but the halls are not silent. In fact, there's a commotion taking place in the new Chat theatre, where a cast of more than 30, dressed in the hippie gear of their parents' generation, are singing a chorus from Groovy! A Musical Tribute to the 1960s, this year's student musical. The all day rehearsal is designed to get the kids into shape and "off book" (their parts memorized) very soon, because the show opens on Wednesday, May 25, runs on the 26 at 7:30 p.m. and again at a Sunday matinée at 2 p.m. on May 29.
The plot involves kids putting on a rock festival in the late 1960s, à la Woodstock, the original groovy be-in that took place in a farmer's field in upstate New York. The book is by Tim Kelly with lyrics by Bill Francoeur.
"I chose this play because it has 24 speaking parts and it was so inclusive," says drama director Paddy McCallum.
The message is one of peace and love that fits with the peaceful schools initiative that Chatelech practises. The school is in its third year of being part of this international program that proposes collaborative and peaceful approaches to problem solving and asks for understanding and appreciation of diversity. Groovy delivers a message of tolerance.
"Also, it allows us to build our own theatrical culture and celebrate the first school production at the new theatre," McCallum says. The kids, from Grades 8 through 12, would agree. "There's nothing but good stuff coming out of this," says one junior flower child.
Characters Travis and Muriel, played by Dan Bevin and Claire Hately, are music festival promoters, much to the disgust and high blood pressure of Sheriff Withers, played by Grade 12 improv comedian Philip Benmore, and of Mrs. Porter, played by Se Patterson. There's a roving reporter, sightings of the Lemon Bugs, a popular rock group, and even a character direct from the British invasion, the so-called Mary Quaint, a fashion designer. There are 10 songs, some performed live and others recorded; many have overtones of the hit musical Hair. A hippie girl with a flute, played by Hannah Westlake, performs one of them: The Pied Piper of Rock and Roll, and the result is cool and, indeed, groovy. Some of the songs are smooth - one song, Brothers and Sisters, was a hit when performed by the lead actors and the Lemon Bugs at the recent Chat Showcase, a fundraising performance night.
On this day off school, the kids are still rehearsing hard. Act Two needs work and they decide to practise again a song that involves most of the cast, We Almost Had a Breakdown. These performers are high on good energy and they spontaneously make up their own steps to the beat. Director Geoff Davis whistles with surprise and suggests they go with the improvised choreography. McCallum and Davis are impressed with the talent and try to involve the students in every way possible: choreography, sound, lights, stage direction and construction. As in most productions, there are a great many teachers and parents involved. Rod Millican is music director, Bob Hately helps with community support, and Patrice Pollack coaches singing. Tickets for Groovy are available for $10 adults, $8 students and seniors, at the school, at Talewind Books (Sechelt), Coast Books (Gibsons) and the Roberts Creek Store.
