Sensational, Stunning, and…Sick?

On the weekend of Nov. 18, the Region 10 Players put up one of their most sensational shows yet – from evil, green witches, to colorful Munchkins, and roaring lions, the cast of the Wizard of Oz had people talking for days on end. However, what most people may not have known was that the cast was going through one of their biggest crises that may have put their entire show in jeopardy. Everyone fell prone to a vicious cold on none other than opening weekend. 

It’s true that there has been a nasty cold spreading throughout our school during the entirety of November, but who knew that it would strike the poor, unsuspecting members of Region 10 Players on opening weekend? Actors from left to right were filled with dread on Nov. 8, biting their nails in anticipation for their solos or their monologues. How were our talented actors supposed to act, sing, and dance when it felt like their throat was on fire and their head was slowly killing them?

But if you were to ask anyone if they had noticed even the slightest mistake in the actors’ dancing or singing, the answer would most definitely be no. Everyone who had watched the Wizard of Oz would collectively agree that the performances were flawless, and that there were no trip-ups, voice cracks, or anything of the sort. They would have no idea what was happening behind the scenes, which can be brought into further detail by Cas Robbins, a key member of Region 10 Players.

Cas acted as the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz. When asked if opening night was stressful, they said, “Extremely. The most stressful part about the show was everyone being sick on opening night, including me, and the fact that I had no voice on opening night.”

Another person in the Wizard of Oz cast, said, “What scared me the most was when someone in the cast called in sick an hour before call time.”

However, when asking Cas whether they were happy with their performance, they turned around and enthusiastically stated, “Yes. I’m proud of my performance despite of everything that went wrong and that we still managed to put it together.”

Obviously, the horrible cold going around had been at the height of everyone’s anxieties, but evidently, it did not hinder our wonderful actors from singing and dancing their heart out. Despite the fact that Cas had no voice, or the fact that somebody had called in sick, the Region 10 Players were able to carry on with the show, which proved to be a sensation to kids and parents all around. The Wizard of Oz has been one of Region 10’s biggest success, and the fact that everyone had not been physically at their best, only impresses us further – we can only wait for what they will bring to us next, which will not doubt be yet another impressive show!