BGM Theatre Class presents ‘Love is in the Air’

      Felix (Kadon Folkmann) interviews Daffy Duck during "The Perfect Interview" as part of the BGM  production of "Love is in the Air." The production, which was performed live on May 19 -20, was a three-part production in which students took inspiration from Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “Locksley Hall” and the line “In the Spring a young man’s (person’s) fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.”

      The BGM Theatre Class presented “Love is in the Air” on Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20 at the BGM Auditorium. “Love is in the Air” was a three-part production in which students took inspiration from Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “Locksley Hall” and the line “In the Spring a young man’s (person’s) fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.” 
    Using the theme of love springs eternal, the class learned to write an improvisation play. “The Perfect Interview?” explored the imagined world of Jane Austen in the context of 1813 Regency England and considered the following questions: (1) Why did Jane Austen write the novel “Pride and Prejudice,” or for that matter, what is the subject of the novel? (2) Does Austen prefer breakfast burritos to casserole? (3) Does Austen like stuffed animals and why are stuffed animals in the novel “Pride and Prejudice” or are they? The audience took a journey back in time with a group of eager young journalists as they conducted an improvised, in-person interview with Jane Austen to find the truth.
      Cast of “The Perfect Interview?” was Madison Hawkins as Beatrix; Kadon Folkmann as Felix and Tabitha Mumm as Jane Austen.
       The next performance focused on a play based on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” written by BGM Theater Instructor Beth Byers, where audience members witnessed the many facets of love. Austen’s novel made an argument for women’s rights in that she believed all women should have the right to choose their spouses rather than have life altering decisions made by parents only. Would love or money prevail? Would Elizabeth accept Mr. Collins’ or Mr. Darcy’s Marriage Proposal? Would Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet remain married?
      Cast of “Pride and Prejudice” was Megan Hanlon as Elizabeth Bennett; Axton Bartachek as Mr. Darcy; Kadon Folkmann as Mr. Bennet; Lailyn Dean as Mrs. Bennet; Madison Hawkins as Jane Bennet and Axton Bartachek as Mr. Collins.
     Finally, “The Mysterious Mystery of the Lost Love Letters” adapted from Salwa Meghjee’s and Samah Maghjee’s “The Mysterious Mystery of the Lost Letters” was performed. Audience members joined the cast in the comedic adventures of Darvis Davis, lead detective, his only employee, Zoe, and a cast of colorful suspects as they attempt to solve the case of William Shakespeare’s Lost Love Letters. Would anyone find love? Who would be the first person to solve the mystery? Was is Darvis versus Zoe in “this not ready for crime time mystery?”
      Cast of The Mysterious Mystery of the Lost Love Letters included: Megan Hanlon as Zoe; Kadon Folkmann as Darvis Davis; Graysen Berry as Isaac; Tabitha Mumm as Abby Arlington; Madison Hawkins as Mabel Arlington; Axton Bartachek as Gerard; Lailyn Dean as Kitty Kiss; Madison Hawkins as Elaine; Axton Bartachek as Bodyguard; Tabitha Mumm as Bodyguard; Madison Hawkins as Reporter and Axton Bartachek as Detective Daniels. 
     Those helping with the production included: Axton Bartachek, student director; Don Lastovka, technology director; Beth Byers, theatre instructor and Nathan Johnson, set design.