When the curtains opened and each character came alive on April 23, the CHS Theatre Department debuted their opening performance of Something Rotten. This theatrical display featured 23 musical numbers throughout Acts 1 and 2 played by Carlsbad’s very own orchestra production. However, what particularly stood out was the choreographed dances that worked to illuminate the meaning of the comedically Shakespearean plot.
I attended the closing show, the only night facing severe technical difficulties. Though the performance was delayed about half an hour, I was pleasantly surprised with the production team’s commitment to getting everything fixed and their dedication to ensuring each actor’s performance was quality.
When the small technical inconveniences were smoothed over, the cast continued to face live struggles with the mics cutting in and out. Junior actress Skylar Grace especially impressed me with consistently strong vocals despite the unreliable audio quality. Throughout the show her vocalistic talent surpassed the challenges of the night.
Just like Grace, senior cast member Andrea Felix gave an excellent portrayal of her character, Bea, presenting a pleasant contradiction to the typical roles of women at the time depicted in the play. Her passionate performance was emotionally driven, much like her character, in the best way possible. Her character also presented another relatability aspect for the audience to see themselves in as hard-working underdogs, whether male or female.
Protagonists played by senior Parker Landino and junior Christian Weston also had an immense talent that shined throughout the play with vexing performances that perfectly counteracted each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Not only did they fit their character extremely well thanks to costume designers, but their convincing acting created an image of a whole new persona they took up in the show.
Junior Mia Raudaskoski played a somewhat minor character throughout the play, yet all of her scenes remained memorable due to a carefully crafted snarky personality that came through in quirky yet charismatic details. These included the simple shuffling of feet over regular walking, as well as a nose-turned-up posture that remained a continual reminder of her role.
I also appreciated the staff cameo appearances. Many in the audience, such as parents and family members, may not have recognized any student faces, making teacher involvement stand out as a connecting attribute between the play and its viewers.
Finally, the review could not be complete without considering the musical numbers previously mentioned. The multiple costume changers of performers such as juniors Vaia Dhiman, Jaelyn Moore, and Eva Sharar were beyond impressive, but combined with the choreographed dances they greatly surpassed the average expectations for a high school play.
While the plot was a bit all over the place, thus making me lose the storyline a few times, the characters’ engaging appeal always brought my visiting friends and I back to the character dynamics that carried the story. Overall, the setbacks the production faced only further shined a spotlight on the cast’s professional demeanor, a spectacular element to the beautiful production of Something Rotten.
