MHS Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost

Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost

Opens Thursday, February 7, at Montclair High School

The set and the actors are ready, the rented costumes are arriving from Minnesota, and the show will go on this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, February 7 - 9, at the Little Theatre at Montclair High School at 8 pm.

Dr. Stephen Vallillo directs over twenty Montclair High students in the comic masterpiece, Love’s Labour’s Lost. One of Shakespeare’s lesser-known comedies, the play centers around an impetuous king and his friends who make a pact to swear off women for three years and devote their attention to their studies. The comedy begins with the arrival of the beautiful princess of France and her three attractive ladies. The would-be scholars soon break their vows and woo the women; thus, comedy ensues.

   “Our goal in SVPA is to get as many students on the stage as we can,” says director Dr. Stephen Valillo, “while at the same time challenging them with interesting work. Performing Shakespeare is a great experience for our students. It teaches them how to bring that language to life. And the play itself is great fun. Our students are enjoying staging such a challenging work.”

The scenery, designed by Kenneth Cleerdin, SVPA’s technical director and MHS art teacher, is built and painted solely by the students. “Performing Shakespeare was intimidating at first but has transformed into an amazing acting experience,” according to senior Collin Kelly-Sordelet. “And,” says junior Vivian Belosky, “after reading Shakespeare in school, performing it is really cool!”

Love’s Labour’s Lost is at Montclair High School’s Little Theatre in the George Inness building on Thursday, February 7; Friday, February 8; and Saturday, February 9; at 8 pm. $10 tickets are available at the door or at http://www.seatyourself.biz/montclairschoolarts