Thursday, February 8, 2007 Older Editions

Enough characters to satisfy an audience

By April Guilmet

Though Halloween is a long way off, a group of local "witches" may still cast a spell or two this weekend at Doherty Middle School.

On Friday and Saturday, the students of Doherty's Drama Club will perform the play, The Witches in the school's auditorium.

Based on the dark tale for children by Roald Dahl, about 65 students are involved in the production, according to the play's director and Doherty Industrial Arts teacher Ken Matteucci.

"There's around 40 students in the cast. Another 20 or so help with painting, sets, costumes, etc.," Matteucci said.

That level of involvement is typical for Doherty, he added. "We usually have this many involved," said Matteucci, who's been involved in the school's drama program for the past decade.

Just like in previous years, the play is based on a piece of children's literature. "We looked at James and the Giant Peach, but there weren't enough characters," Matteucci said. "You want to get as many in on it as possible."

The story focuses on a group of children disappearing under the evil spell of witches, who are gathering for their annual convention. Two children, played by seventh-graders Maggie Casto and Adam Ladd, are transformed into mice by the Grand High Witch, played by Zoe Payne-Taylor, an eighth-grader.

Only a wise grandmother, played by eighth-grader Casey McQuillen, knows how to stop them.

According to Karen Payne-Taylor, who is Zoe's mother, the play is largely student-driven. "The students built the set. Some of the costumes were made by students as well," she said.

Members of the Drama Club have been preparing for The Witches since November, Matteucci said. Both he and assistant director Stephanie Schlie's ultimate goal, they said, is to empower students to create a production that is uniquely their own.

"The best thing about the Doherty Drama Club is how kid-oriented it is," said cast member Maggie Casto. "We do everything."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Doherty Middle School's Drama Club performance of Roald Dahl's The Witches.

WHERE: Memorial Auditorium next to Doherty Middle School, 50 Bartlet St. The Auditorium faces the Park.

WHEN: Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9 and 10, at 7 p.m.

HOW: Tickets are $7 adults, and $4 for students and seniors. Tickets will be sold at the door. For advance tickets, call 978-623-8750.