Loyola Academy Jesuit College Preparatory School
The Loyola Academy Prep Wednesday, November 15, 2017 A.M.D.G.
Volume K Issue III
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Failure comes to the Academy Grayson Pitt Freshman Writer Emily Devyor LA News Editor Failure: A Love Story by Philip Dawkins was presented by the Thespians Club the weekend of November 2-5, in the Loyola Academy Theater. The play takes place in the early twentieth century in a clock shop on the riverbanks of Chicago. The story is centered around the lives of the Fail family, more specifically the three Fail sisters – Nelly, Jenny June, and Gerty – who all tragically died (in that order). Student Director, Jason Kesse, did a fantastic job directing such an emotional story. Failure: A Love Story is exactly what it sounds like,
a tragic love story. The story, told as a memory, was narrated passionately by Elena Kittle-Kamp. A man named Mortimer Mortimer, played by Jack Serio, wandered into the Fail family’s clock shop one evening. There, he met Gerty Fail, played by Eva Vitanovec, and also the girl of his dreams (and Gerty’s sister), Nelly Fail (Emma Samuelson). Nelly and Mortimer fell madly in love, until Nelly tragically died on their wedding day. Devastated, Mortimer Mortimer moved into Nelly’s old room and became the swim coach of Jenny June Fail (Tessa Volpe), who wanted to be the first woman to swim across Lake Michigan. Mortimer and Jenny June fell in love as well, until her untimely drowning so
John N. Fail bonds with his would be brother-in-law. Photo Courtesy The Year
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Mortimer and Gerty anxiously keep an eye on Jenny June Fail as she attempts to swim across Lake Michigan. Photo Courtesy The Year
close to the finish line. Mortimer Mortimer jumped in to save her, but he could not swim (ironically), so Gerty Fail had to jump in and save him. Sadly, Gerty Fail then died from a disease called consumption (similar to tuberculosis) that she caught while saving Mortimer. This sounds like the most tragic play ever written, but it is not so serious throughout. John N. Fail (Daniel Brennan) is the socially awkward brother who helps keep the story light and fun. His silly antics, misunderstandings of social customs, and general randomness keeps the audience laughing. The cast and crew of the show worked for a month and a half to bring this show to life. When asked how working on this show differed from other experiences she had had in theatre, senior Jackie O’Kane, one of
the assistants to the costume and makeup crew, said, “I feel that this show differs from other shows because I’ve never had this type of leadership, freedom and responsibility, and as a senior I find it extremely rewarding to see my visions come to life.” Jackie helped design and execute the makeup looks for each cast member. The costumes for this show were different from other shows because they had to look like they were from the 1920s, which was a very specific style. There were a lot of drop waist style dresses and updo hairstyles during the time, which had to be reflected in what the actors wore. Some actors chose to do accents to fit the time period. Ensemble member James Cullinane, who was in the musical Urinetown, mentioned this when talking
about his experience in this show: “I think it’s really amazing to be doing a comedy because other shows just have scattered jokes throughout, while this show was designed to be funny and make people laugh. It’s just amazing to stand on stage and see the audience smile and know that you could bring them that joy through acting.” Last year’s play, The Amish Project, was a drama, so having a comedy this year was a nice change, especially because of how dark and emotional The Amish Project was. “Failure is a play about death and yet it is a comedy. It has a unique feel because of this, and it allows the audience to see the irony in the Fail sisters’ deaths,” said Production Manager
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