Awty's 'The Madwoman of Chaillot'

(From left) Kabir Samlal and Zoe Mitchell. (Photo: Gwen Cario)

Each school year, Awty’s high school theatre department presents two main productions: one straight play and one musical. The straight play is performed during the winter and the musical is performed during the spring. 

(From left) Elsa Germain, Isabelle Jefferis, Nadia Al Khunaizi, Isabelle de Jong, Lauren Clarke and Adriana Morales. (Photo: Gwen Cario)

The straight play this year was The Madwoman of Chaillot written by Jean Giraudoux. It told the story of an eccentric woman named Aurelia, played by the fabulous Zoe Mitchell, who planned to exterminate the evil men who wanted to destroy Paris to drill for oil. She did so with the help of her friends, an interesting array of societal outcasts in the city.

(From left) Zoe Mitchell, Alejandro Williams, Meher Qazilbash, Beatriz Gras, Kabir Samlal, Ellie Tycer, Jon Donaldson, Alice Spadini, Sebastian Chenin and Elsa Germain. (Photo: Gwen Cario)

Rehearsals and other preparation for the show began in October, while the actual performances took place in December. The job of a cast member or tech crew member required staying long hours after school and devoting all of one’s energy to ensure that the play was spectacular. It was this long and tiring process that created such a powerful cast connection and turned the experience into a fond memory. 

(From left) Stella Coulom, Isabel Matthews-Elston, Flora de Noblet and Zoe Mitchell. (Photo: Gwen Cario)

Our hard work paid off, as shown in the responses from audience members. Senior Phoebe Blott said she “could not stop laughing throughout the entire show. There were so many vibrant characters and the show was incredibly well done.” Andre Vega, also a senior, commented on the performance saying he “was amazed by the talent and energy from each cast member.” As a cast member I can say that we all were very proud of the show, and we were so pleased to hear that our audiences enjoyed it.