Lost Girl hits stage at John F. Ross with students sharing Wendy’s return home from Neverland
GUELPH – Did you ever stop to wonder what Wendy went through when she came home from Neverland and tried to adjust back to the real world?
She’s a teenage girl grappling with all the struggles that come with the transitions of adolescence, while holding on to mystical memories no one else seems to understand.
Lost Girl will be on stage in the E.L. Fox Theatre at John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute from April 16 to 18.
The play by Kimberly Belflower offers a feminist sequel to Peter Pan.
Grade 12 student Maddie Evans, who lived in Rockwood for most of her life, is working as both the play’s stage manager and backstage manager – depending on the night.
That means more than just calling cues for lights and sounds, Evans said – the role includes keeping the crew and cast organized.
Evans learned stage and backstage management while taking the drama tech class at John F. Ross in Grades 10, 11 and 12. She developed some expertise in the role managing assemblies before moving on to managing multiple school plays, including the Addams Family and the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) Dramafest held at the high school in March.
Though Evans isn’t planning a career in the arts – she’s set to study archaeology at Trent University – she does hope to continue to pursue her passion through extra-curriculars, and said some of her friends in the play hope to have careers in acting.
Evans said auditions for the play started during the second week of school in September, and by October, the two casts and crews had started rehearsing (there are two different teams presenting the play, to give more students opportunities in different roles).
In the weeks leading up to the performances, the students have rehearsals every day, totalling more than 15 hours a week.
Evans said her favourite aspect of the play is the set – the bright lights, muted colours and bland background convey the sad themes of the story, and add to the raw feeling, she said.
No one seems to understand what Wendy is going through, and “her life is losing colour,” Evans said.
She hopes people come out and watch the play because it’s a chance to “step back and understand that theatre has a message.”
In a world flooded with short AI videos offering quick dopamine hits, it’s important to slow down and appreciate real art that conveys human thoughts, struggles and emotions, she said.
And she hopes people will come out to support the students, who put their hearts and souls into pulling off the production.
The play will be performed at 7pm on April 16, 17 and 18 and at 1pm on April 18. Tickets, available for cash at the door, are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.
