Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle Staff
Imagine if rock ‘n roll didn’t exist. Would you take a stand for the music you love?
That’s what SOSS drama students are doing this week with their production of “A-Wop Bop A-Loo Bop at Venables Theatre on March 9-11.
The jukebox celebration takes you back to the 1950’s as rock ‘n roll hits the airwaves by storm, with spunky teenagers dreaming of making it big. But when the radio station announces that rock ‘n roll has got to go, the kids take a stand.
One of those is Grade 8 student Ezra Toon who plays the lead role as the greaser Gary Jones.
“My character is very like, ‘swaggy’ I guess, he doesn’t really care about a lot of things. Ya, and he has a lot of angst because a lot of things don’t go his way.”
This is Toon’s first production at the school; he got the part simply by auditioning one day.
“He’s pretty darn good,” interjected fellow cast member Jesse Wyatt, who plays Joey.
Toon said he has been working on his acting and singing skills, noting he is improving with every rehearsal, according to drama teacher Alison Podmorow.
“I’ve always loved performing for people,” he said, adding that after seeing last year’s school musical he was definitely going to audition for the next role.
Toon said he was very surprised when he landed the lead, pointing out that it was very nerve-racking.
So who’s Gary Jones?
Toon said he’s a guy in a rock band trying to score a record label but isn’t seeing much luck.
“And there’s this girl that he likes and she’s getting the parts in the big show, so it’s kind of hard for him and he doesn’t really know what to do so he’s just very angry, upset and disappointed.”
Toon described the musical as very “goofy” with a coming-of-age story and a bit of romance mixed in.
Toon himself is keeping his options open for a dramatic career; a month ago he auditioned for a role in a short film. “I’m planning on auditioning for all the musicals for the next four years [at SOSS].”
Wyatt said his character Joey likes to talk and knows all the cool things that are going on.
“He’s the cool guy that Gary thinks he is, but I’m actually that, right?”
Wyatt said Joey is the person who introduces interactions between characters in different situations.
This is Wyatt’s second production. “It’s just fun, you know. You put a bunch of time creating this world and fleshing it out and then it’s just fun to immerse yourself in it.”
Wyatt said he researched the role by having a few discussions with his parents about what the 1950s were like in terms of style and character.
Cast member Zephyr Pickell plays Mr. Davis, the antagonistic character who bans rock ‘n roll from being played on the radio station.
“There’s not a lot in the actual script about why he hates rock ‘n roll, but I think it has to do with a rivalry between him and the radio DJ, Chester Lester, and I think he’s trying to make Chester look bad in the public eye.”
Pickell said he got into his role by watching a movie called “A Boat That Rocks” set in the 1950s when rock ‘n roll started to take off. The British government thought this music went against conservative values and tried to ban it. Meanwhile, there was a boat broadcasting rock ‘n roll on the ocean.
“I watched that and really paid attention to the character who played the policy minister who was trying to ban rock ‘n roll and why he was doing it. It seemed he grew up with a background that liked classical music . . . he thought rock ‘n roll was going to instill negative impacts on the young people and make them more rebellious.”
Pickell said he likes playing this character because it is a lot different than who he really is.
“I tend to think of myself as a nice person but he [Mr. Davis] is quite a mean man, and I find it kind of fun to play with that a little bit.”
The Grade 10 student says he wants to explore the film industry when he gets older. “I really like the permanence and intention of how you can use a camera to apply a filter to a situation of perspective that you can’t really get in other mediums.”
Pickell is setting his sights on being a film director because he likes putting a unique spin on a story. He hopes to make a documentary some day.
Podmorow said the students in this production have really proven to be a talented group. She noted the high energy show is appropriate for all age groups that will want to sing along to many popular hit songs.
A-Wop Bop A-Loo Bop plays at the Venables on March 9-10 at 7 p.m. and on March 11 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Tickets are available at the box office or online at venables.ca.
