By Megan Cullins, contributor
Next on the Big Bad Wolf’s list is to huff and puff and blow the audience away.
“The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf” by Joseph Robinette is a partnership between Friendly City Players and ACT ONE, two community theater groups in Harrisonburg. The cast will perform June 19-21 at Court Square Theater.
The cast is a mix of children and adults — including some families — taking the stage together to determine through testimony and comedy if the Big Bad Wolf really did blow down the houses of the three little pigs.
The cast has been working on this show since late April.
“The show is where it needs to be. It is ready for any audience,” said J.P. Gulla, executive director of ACT ONE.
Many of the children in this play have acted before in other productions like ACT ONE’s last production, “The Little Mermaid.”
Whether it’s rehearsing lines or attempting the Dirty Dancing lift, the sense of community really shines through.
“I haven’t really been to many practices. When I was here, it’s really fun for the show because everybody is so nice,” said Chloe Martin, who plays Charity. “There’s a wider range of talent in this show than any of the other shows I’ve been in.”
The young cast members agree that their favorite part of being in this show is the people and the friends they’ve made and have gotten to act with again.
“I think the comedy aspect of the show is really fun and working with a bunch of people that I haven’t known before. I think it’s fun to meet new people,” said Leo Goldberg, who plays the town crier.
As director, Gulla has worked with much of the cast in previous shows and said that he loves that he gets to work with parents and their children.
However, some of the cast has never been a part of the theater before this show. “It’s not easy to be silly on stage and go crazy…it’s beautiful to see their journey,” Gulla said.
The play requires a large ensemble and once someone’s onstage, they stay there. Gulla chose this play because it requires a big cast that gets to play off of each other and the audience.
“They are very passionate. That’s why I love them. They’re all so amazing, and they’re so talented,” Gulla said.
Tickets cost $15 for students and $20 for adults if bought in advance and $20 for students and $25 for adults at the door.
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