Pilgrim, former Vets students team up for `No, No, Nanette'

Warwick Beacon ·

On Monday evening, Richard Denningham stood on the platform of a ladder overlooking the stage of the Pilgrim High School auditorium. He surveyed lighting, sets and gave instructions to the students with him. This was the first dress rehearsal of the Pilgrim Players Drama Club’s production of “No, No, Nanette” that will be performed this weekend.

The musical is set in the 1920s and is centered on Nanette, a young girl whose family is pushing her to lead the life of a traditional homemaker. She does in fact want to raise a family. But first, she wants to raise a little hell and have fun.

“It falls into a lot of the classic Broadway musical tropes where everybody ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said advisor/director Denningham.

The Players’ “No, No, Nanette” has an even bigger cast and crew than the club typically has. After the influx of new students from Warwick Veterans, the club approximately doubled in size. Denningham estimates the club has 60 to 70 members active in this play between onstage talent and behind the scenes crews. According to the cast, that worked in their benefit.

“The talent we got from Vets is incredible. We didn’t know who we’d get, but I feel like this has been the most welcoming community in the entire school for everyone,” said senior Mary Mullane, president of the club who plays Nanette. “We’re a team here and we’re a family. You can see in the show that everyone comes together.”

Senior Nicholas Barratt, who has the role of Tom Trainor, shadowed Mullane before he made the transfer from Warwick Vets and is happy to be a part of the new expanded club.

“I’d say it’s a very welcoming experience as well,” he said. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.”

Club Vice President Sydney Perez, a sophomore who plays Winnie Winslow, said members new and old all put in an exceptional amount of work.

“When you watch the show, you can see the innumerable amount of hours people put into this,” she said. “It’s effortless and amazing. A lot of hard work went into it, and you can definitely see that when you watch it.”

Students are also learning as they get into character. Junior Dylan Bowden said he’s having fun playing the “flashy” Billy Early.

“I love how much my character is a flashy guy and how much happiness he spreads,” he said.

Senior Ryan Bruhn and freshman Abbey Spolidoro play Jimmy and Sue Smith, a vastly different but happily married couple. Jimmy loves to spend and give away his wealth to help make people happy, while Sue would rather save it.

“I feel like I can connect to that – if you’re able to make other people happy, you can find that true happiness inside,” Bruhn said of his character.

Spolidoro pointed to her plain brown dress, joking that it symbolized the conservatism of her character. She’s glad to have such a big part in a production this early into her high school career.

“This is my first year at Pilgrim and getting a lead is huge, especially for a freshman,” she said. “I’m really excited that I get to be a part of it.”

Participation was important to Denningham. Warwick Veterans didn’t have an active drama program in its last years, so he wanted students with an interest in drama to have an opportunity to be a part of Pilgrim’s program. Everyone who wanted to partake was able to as Denningham put students in places that best corresponded with their talents.

“It’s nice to have so many new people. I’m really excited that we had so many come out,” he said. “I’m really proud of what they’ve accomplished.”

Though he’s on hand during rehearsals and for any urgent situations that might happen during performances, Denningham said the students will run the whole show themselves.

“I’ll be pacing in the back of the auditorium and they’ll be actually calling the shots,” he joked.

“No, No, Nanette” is directed and produced by Denningham, choreographed by Jenna Tremblay and has musical direction from Jacqueline Soares. Tickets can be purchased at the door ($9 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, and children under 10) on show nights. Performances are at the Pilgrim auditorium November 18 and 19 at 7 p.m. and November 20 at 2 p.m.

DANCE IT OUT:

From left Abbey Testa, Emily Souza, Rachel Goding, Katarina Boiano, Hannah Bouressa, Chelsea Lavallee and Melissa Tibbitts rehearse a dance number for “No, No, Nanette.” (Warwick Beacon photos) THE STAR AND THE STRIPES:

Mary Mullane (center) plays the lead role of Nanette. From left are Hannah Bouressa, Zachary Lafontaine and Kelsey Carreiro in a scene. AMBUSHED:

Clockwise: Ryan Bruhn, Sydney Perez, Tatiana Urias and Grace Pine act out a comical scene. OPPOSITES:

Abbey Spolidoro’s (left) Sue Smith prefers to be conservative with money, but Gabrielle Young’s Lucille Early appears a little flashier. ENSEMBLE:

The cast of “No, No, Nanette” in another one of many dance numbers of the play.