Imagine yourself at the opening night of the Upper School Play “Seven Ages of Anne.” The house lights are dimmed, and you open your playbill to peruse the names of the cast. Yet, on the first page you see multiple people playing the same character. No, it is not a typo.
In an interesting style of theatre, the “Seven Ages of Anne” is a play about a fictional girl named Anne Lawrence and her life as portrayed by seven different people at seven different stages (and ages) of her life, ages 12, 17, 20, 30, 40/50, 60/70 and 87. In a series of vignettes, you glimpse universal themes about confusion through life’s transitions. Some of Anne’s challenges include living through World War I, two husbands, the Great Depression, raising a daughter…and more.
So how does this curious style of theatre work? I had the opportunity to speak with the Director and Coordinator of Montrose’s Drama Program, Mrs. Sullivan. She said that she “stumbled upon the play while researching plays that include few male roles.” “Seven Ages of Anne” was developed by a drama teacher who taught at an all-girls school. She got the idea from the play “Seven Ages of Man,” by William Shakespeare.
Mrs. Sullivan casts shows with “Growth Mindset” in mind, always thinking about each girls’ development as a performer. Mrs. Sullivan said, “The point of high school plays is not only to put on a good show, but to challenge all persons involved to help improve the overall outcome and individual skills.”
For this play, the rehearsal time period is limited to six weeks, including Christmas vacation. Participating in a play has its stresses, especially during the long nights of tech week and finding time to memorize lines and practice blocking. But creating new friendships with girls in other grades, and bonding with the cast as a team, is loads of fun.
The costumes and make-up that go with each era of Anne’s life reveal the fashion trends and shifts over time. Anne Lawrence was born in 1900, and the fashion changes are dramatic. At age 12, Anne wears 1912-styled clothes. At 20, she’s a flapper from the 1920s. The fashion changes add heightened attention to the role of costumes to enhance the story.
While directing a play or acting in it may seem like daunting tasks, watching the show is pure pleasure. Please join us at 7 PM on Friday, January 30th, Saturday, January 31st or for the 2 PM Sunday, February 1st matinee in the comfort of our own Arts & Athletic Center.