By Joel van der Veen
DAVIDSON — A tale of temptation, desires and consequences was the centrepiece of a dessert theatre night at Davidson School on Wednesday.
The school’s senior drama club presented SOuLD, a one-act play written by principal Jason Low, and co-directed by the playwright and his wife Arlene.
More than 200 people attended the dessert theatre night, which also included dance and musical performances and a silent auction with dozens of items available.
SOuLD mixed elements of comedy and drama, featuring a cast of colourful characters and an intriguing plot. It told the story of six young people who are offered the chance to enjoy their greatest desires, but at a terrible price.
The play was narrated by Jake (Jacob Schilling), who is invited along with five of his friends to an infernal party. Despite being warned by a mysterious hobo (Geena Heinrich), they go ahead to the ghastly gala, presided over by Lucifer (Morgan Manz), who deceives them each into bidding on the experiences they desire most.
Astrid (Sarah Allan) becomes an accomplished actress, while Patrick (Liam McJannet) tours the world as a rock-and-roll star.
Leah (Sarah Bublish) goes on a date with a handsome movie star, while Samantha (Emily Read) gets the opportunity to visit with her deceased mother one last time, and Matt (Justin Sandsbraaten) gets to fulfill his dream of becoming a ballet dancer.
Each one finds that the fulfillment of their wish is not quite what they’d expected, and only at the end does Lucifer reveal that they’ve been bidding not in dollars, but in years — and becoming his possessions in the process.
This was only the second time one of Low’s original plays has been performed in public — the first being Well, Here’s to Us, performed at last year’s swimming pool gala.
“Right up to this point, it’s pretty nerve-wracking,” Low said after the performance, adding that once the actors took their final bows, “It’s a pretty great feeling, actually.”
For the full story, please see the April 18 edition of The Davidson Leader.