A scene from the play “The Drowsy Chaperone”, live on stage at CHS.
Curtain Call at Citrus High: The Drowsy Chaperone
By Bonnie Bunn
In just under three and a half weeks, the cast and crew of Citrus High brought the glittering world of The Drowsy Chaperone to life—a whirlwind production of jazz-age charm, meta-theater, and musical mayhem. Led by director Kristen Neander, the team tackled tight deadlines, emotional nuance, and physical comedy to create a performance that dazzled audiences and left a lasting impression.
A Tight Timeline and Big Vision
Kristen Neander, director of the show, called the condensed rehearsal schedule the production’s biggest hurdle. “From the first rehearsal to the first audience was less than 3 ½ weeks,” she explained. “We built, designed, and executed everything in that timeframe.”
She chose The Drowsy Chaperone for its heart and humor, saying, “I wanted to go back and explore the story with a new group of students who could handle the material and bring new life to the characters.” Her approach to directing prioritized student ownership: “I put the trust in the actors… Once we found those nuanced moments, I allowed the students to try fun and different things.”
Music, Mayhem, and Mastery
Music Director John Edel faced his own challenge with the showstopper “I Do, I Do in the Sky.” “We could not get it together,” he admitted. “But it finally came to, and they did amazing.” Helping students find their musical voice was about encouragement and experimentation: “They did a fantastic job.”
Stage Manager Sam Grunst worked behind the scenes to keep the chaos in check. “One of the hardest things is keeping everything orderly,” he said. When a gap in a secret door revealed the backstage area, he quickly crafted a fabric barrier to solve the issue—one of many quiet heroics that made the show run smoothly.
Costume Designer Gianna Marsh brought the roaring ’20s to vivid life. “I was very inspired by the 1920s, but I also considered the characters’ personalities.” Her biggest challenge? “Miss Tottendale’s dress—definitely. I hand-sewed it from scratch, and we only had three weeks.”
Prop designers Annabel Dunfee and Josh Petrucci contributed their own creativity and elbow grease. For Annabel, the most interesting project was the snake trimmers’ basket. “There was a lot of trial and error,” she said. Josh highlighted the “clouds” as particularly labor-intensive. The biggest struggle? “The streamers for Janet—they kept getting tangled and even had to be cut one night.”
A Cast of Characters: Heartfelt and Hilarious
At the center of the show was Mason Robie as Man in Chair, the narrator and emotional anchor. “What prepared me for the connection [with the audience] was the thought that I had to portray the genuine emotional truth of Man In Chair,” he shared. Balancing loneliness with humor, he leaned into the character’s unfiltered vulnerability.
Isabella Hollingsworth shone as the glamorous but clueless Mrs. Tottendale. “I think people really liked seeing comedy,” she said, noting the balance between elegant body language and comedic tone. A subtle challenge? “Always remaining clueless and smiling—even when I wasn’t the focus.”
Opposite her, M. Murray delivered deadpan brilliance as Underling. “I basically just pretended to be really sassy,” they said. Their favorite moment? “When she [Tottendale] asks for ice water, and I say ‘Your ice water, madam,’ and then she spits at me seven times.”
Jonah Thomas, who played the dashing yet clumsy Robert Martin, wrestled with physical comedy and singing simultaneously. “Swinging my arms while acting like I was falling and singing was really hard.” Meanwhile, James Madison based his portrayal of the anxious best man George on real-life inspiration. “I just thought about my brother’s wedding… His best friend was ridiculous from how stressed he was.”
As the hard-nosed producer Feldzieg, Michael Green brought grounding realism to the farce. “There has to be someone who’s more realistic to keep the story intact.”
Lily Anderson, who played Kitty, stole scenes with her quirky charm. “My favorite moment was when I got to eat lots of pastries—and Mason came over and grabbed one out of my hand and ate it!” She added her own flair by shuffling off stage with a penguin-like waddle.
The gangster-pastry duo, played by Bryce Thomas and Greyson Davis, delivered delightful slapstick. “It was fun switching from serious to silly,” said Bryce. Greyson called it a dream role: “I’ve always wanted to play a character like this.” Their chemistry came from real-life bonding: “We started hanging out more outside of rehearsals,” said Greyson.
Christian Raber, who played the scene-stealing Aldolpho, leaned into the character’s theatricality through hours of rehearsal. “As more happened, the comedy became more natural.” His favorite line? “Any time I got to say, ‘Aldolpho!’ really loud—I loved hamming it up.”