When most people hear the title “Up the Down Staircase”, they think of a comedic play with a silly plot and a lot of laughs. “That’s not the case,” reveals sophomore Marissa Gabel, who plays the role of Charlotte Wolf in the cast. “It’s definitely funny, but it has a meaning to it. There is a life lesson involved that students should take away.”

Up the Down Staircase is the story of Sylvia Barret, a new teacher who comes to a school full of troublemakers. “Sylvia sees a problem with the way the school is run, so she tries to change the current situation by empathizing with the students,” explains Cecilia Smith, who acts as the character Claire Blaine. “She stands up for the biggest troublemaker in class, while most of the teachers in the school don’t take the time to understand the students.”

While the plot is certainly entertaining, what will make it even better is the connection it has with the students at PR. “Students will especially like the play this year! They will be able to relate to what is going on since the setting is in high school, so there are similar situations that take place,” Rachel Brucki, assistant head of Props Crew, enthusiastically states. According to Rachel, the characters in the play have “problems that real high-schoolers are facing today”, such as “having a crush on a teacher” or “lacking the motivation to complete homework”.

The cast will also make the play an unforgettable experience to the audience members. “The fall play this year is very well-casted,” Cecilia says. “Everybody brings something different to their part, making it their own. I’m confident the students will really enjoy the roles in the play, and will be able to see themselves in at least on of the characters.”

Mr. Daren Dusenske, the director of the play, also agrees that the performance will be spectacular. The fall play being the first time he is directing, Mr. Dusenske says that he is “impressed with the dedication and ability of everybody involved. It’s really neat to watch such a talented group of actors and technical crew members to work so hard to make sure that the play is a success. [He is] honored to be working with them.”

The show will be on Friday, October 7th, and Saturday, October 8th at 7 pm. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors, and $7 for adults. Students with activity tickets will be able to get one free ticket to the show.

We wish everybody, both the cast and the crew, good luck as they continue to work hard towards making a wonderful performance!