“Double Double” hits the stage WHS Drama Club performs annual winter play

By Nicole Scotton Staff Writer

On Friday, March 10, the Walpole High School (WHS) drama club hit the stage and opened their winter play, “Double Double,” written by Kathryn Funkhouser. The cast performed two shows on Friday and Saturday evening. Tickets were sold at the door throughout February and March, and sold out ahead of the performances. Inspired by the works of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the play follows an awkward high schooler, Emily, who continues to be sabotaged by three mysterious witches while she and her classmates are preparing to perform their own school play of “Macbeth.” According to theater lore, “Macbeth” is a cursed production, as many theater and film productions throughout history have experienced accidents and tragedies. “Double Double” plays off of this legend by depicting the play’s three witches trapped in human society, and vow to curse productions of “Macbeth” in order to escape.

The play included both lighthearted jokes and frightening scenes, while even touching upon deeper meanings and sentiment such as the value of friendship, trust and the heavy topic two shows of “Double of bullying–all of which many high schoolers may find themselves relating to. Furthermore, the twists and turns of “Double Double” left viewers on the edge of their seats, attempting to predict what may occur next.

The club began rehearsing and producing the play since mid-January, leaving members of the performance a mere month and a half to formulate a prodigious production. Less time was granted for the creation of this play as compared to musicals, such as their last production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” as musicals take much more time to formulate. With such limtied time to produce this play, much more dedication needed to be applied from all members of the club.

“Everyone takes these productions very seriously, and are willing to step out of their way to make a product that people are going to enjoy,” said junior Max Grant.

The drama club displayed special effects skills throughout the play with the use of lighting and sound effects from their technology team. The set included multiple school desks, a couch and even sword props, while costumes consisted of mostly average schoolwear–aside from the witches, in an attempt to replicate average high school life. The Drama Club will return to the stage next fall.