Naperville Central junior's play chosen as high school's holiday show
These days just about anything making headlines ends up being fodder for courtroom television show storylines.
But in Naperville Central High School's new holiday play, it's the courtroom shows that provided a little inspiration.
"Order in the Court" begins at 8 p.m. today and Saturday, Dec. 11 and 12, at the school's Little Theater, 440 W. Aurora Ave.
The play is about a janitor named Jake Sherman who has to pretend to be an attorney after a mishap occurs. He must defend Moe Dread who is accused of stealing the heart of gold diamond, but his client is not going to make his job easy.
"The show is crazy," said senior Ian James, who plays the prosecuting attorney. "It's completely ridiculous, which is great about it. It's everything you love about a courtroom but made funny."
For instance, he said, there is mistaken identity, nonsensical evidence and attorneys trying to object to things the judge says.
Junior Dan Crowley wrote and directed the play. He said he was inspired by the TV series "Law and Order" and wanted to see whether he could add humor to a courtroom show. The play took about two weeks to write and a few additional days to edit.
"It's always fun to perform in plays, but it always appealed to me to actually write and be able to create something and see it performed on stage," Crowley said.
He was impressed by the cast, who put their own spin on his scenes as they rehearsed.
Working with a student director and having the latitude to do just that appealed to junior Mike Raleigh, who plays the janitor-turned-lawyer. Raleigh said at times the actors would ad lib and some of their changes have stayed in the show.
Doing an original show as opposed to a classic holiday tale was also a chance for the actors to flex their creativity in terms of their characters.
"In a lot of other shows there's always a movie or someone famous who played a character you always have to look at and, subconsciously or consciously, kind of model your character after that," Raleigh said. "But when you have something that's never been done before, you get to create your own."
Freshman Samantha Roth plays an attorney fresh out of law school and agreed it was helpful not to have to compare themselves to other actors. She also enjoyed working with a student director who could show her the ropes in her first Central show.
"It's been a new experience, but everyone here is so warm and welcoming," she said. "It's been interesting, but it's been fun."
Tickets are $5. There is a $1 discount for patrons who bring a canned food donation.
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> "Order in the Court," a student-written and -directed holiday play</p> <p class="News"><b>When: </b>8 p.m. today and Saturday, Dec. 11 and 12</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Naperville Central High School's Little Theater, 440 W. Aurora Ave.</p> <p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $5, $1 discount with donation of canned food item</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 420-3885</p>