A graduate from Heritage Woods Secondary is back at the Port Moody high school to direct a shortened version of a Canadian stage classic.
Julia Maclean, a recent alumna of Sheridan College in Ontario, is leading the cast of 35 students in the Musical Theatre 9–12 class in The Drowsy Chaperone, a 1998 show filled with jazz tunes from the 1920s and plenty of hijinks.
Set in the present with Julie Heisel portraying the narrator, the mousy “Person in Chair” listens to a recording of a fictional musical comedy from 1928 called The Drowsy Chaperone to lift their spirits.
And as the music plays, the dingy apartment dims and the stage transforms into Broadway set for the musical running through the narrator’s head.
Played out at the estate of the wealthy Mrs. Tottendale’s — portrayed by Valeria Gonzalez Forastieri — the 90-minute show centres on the wedding day of oil tycoon Robert Martin (Cohen Leibovitch) and Broadway star Janet Van De Graaff (Lily Raymond).
But Broadway producer Feldzieg (Brandon Le) tries to stop the nuptials so Janet can keep working for his Feldzieg’s Follies as his star dancer. He recruits the Latin lover Aldolpho (Maxine Chambers) to seduce Janet, who is chaperoned at the event by a drowsy woman (Lana Kudrina).
Aldolpho mistakens the chaperone for Janet while Feldzieg also brings on two gangsters (Noah Parks and Jonah Drezet), who dress up as pastry chefs, to put an end to the happy day.
“There is a lot of humour in this musical and, luckily, we have a lot of comedians in this cast,” Maclean told the Tri-City News during a dress rehearsal on Feb. 20. “It’s a pleasure to watch because it’s a type of escape — for the narrator and for the audience. It takes your mind off what’s going on in the world today and gives us joy.”
It is the second time Maclean has directed and choreographed a musical at Heritage Woods Secondary: In 2020, she was behind Bring It On that, because of the pandemic, was recast the following year for an online audience under the direction of Maclean’s sister, Jaime, who is now studying at Sheridan College.
“I loved my time here at Heritage Woods,” said Julia Maclean, who plans to train as a drama teacher. “There’s a great theatre program here. It’s always fun to work in your hometown.”
Tickets are $14/$12 to see The Drowsy Chaperone at Heritage Woods Secondary (1300 David Ave., Port Moody) on Feb. 28, and March 1, 7 and 8. Advance tickets can be bought via brownpapertickets.com. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m.
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