by Allison Vickery
I met up with the cast of The Children’s Hour for a question and answer with Emily Giorgio, who’s playing Mrs. Amelia Tilford; Isabelle Banks, who’s playing Mary Tilford; and Darren Otte, who’s playing Dr. Joseph Cardin. The performances will be on October 2, 3, and 4 in the Mini Theater.
Q: “Can you describe what The Children’s Hour is about?”
Emily Giorgio: “It’s about this little girl named Mary. It’s set in the 1930s. And basically, she doesn’t want to go to school anymore. She’s quite the troublemaker. She tells her grandmother that her teachers are lesbians. And the rumor spreads, and chaos ensues.”
Isabelle Banks: “Basically, the message is that gossip is really bad. It’s centered around a girl’s boarding school in the 1930s. The two headmasters are women. One of the girls in the school really despises them.”
Q: “What can the audience expect from The Children’s Hour?”
Emily Giorgio: “You could expect tears. Probably anger. Disbelief. You can expect terrific acting. In the three weeks we’ve had, it’s developed so well, and it’s only going to get better. The script can be a little hard to understand, but you kind of get it because the acting is just so great. Everybody is just so spectacular. You get a feel for what’s going on. You understand. It’s a well written script too.”
Isabelle Banks: “You can expect a lot of good acting from my castmates. A lot of drama and an overall good message of not spreading lies and rumors.”
Darren Otte: “You can expect a great show. We’ve all been working really hard. I am one of the only guys in it, which is really strange.”
Q: “ Why did you choose to participate in The Children’s Hour rather than the musical?”
Emily Giorgio: “I usually do the play because they’re just well-picked. I love everybody who works in them, not to say that I don’t love everyone who works in the musical. Musicals, to me, don’t really make sense. Plays make more sense to me, so it’s just a lot of fun.”
Isabelle Banks: “I wanted to be in it because the part that I have is challenging me. My character is psychotic, and it’s hard to play that. It’s heavy on lines, so that’s heavy on the cast. But we’re doing a good job with it. I think it was the right choice.”
Darren Otte: “I enjoy doing straight-up theater, and this is one of the only options to do that at HHS, where it’s not just your grade or just a few people. I’ve really been enjoying it. I’ve only done musical theater prior to this year, so I went with the play.”
Q: “What makes this different from previous plays you’ve done?”
Emily Giorgio: “This play is just so controversial, and I love that. It sends this really deep message about your words, your actions, and how you represent yourself with those. This is probably my favorite play that we’ve done.”
Isabelle Banks: “It’s a step up. The other plays we’ve done we’re a little more juvenile, and the subject matter is a little more mature than previous plays. I think the commitment is there this time around.”
Darren Otte: “This one has been better than the previous plays I’ve done. This one you can see the development of all of the characters in the show and not just my own.”
Q: “What is the most exciting part in The Children’s Hour?”
Emily Giorgio: “Most exciting part of the play is I get to wear a wig. I also love that we have a lot of young actors working on the show, and I think it’s a nice intro for them. Whether they’re in eighth grade or ninth grade or just starting out with Drama Society, it’s a way for them to start getting involved because there’s so many wonderful people in this show. We’re just so loving and accepting.”
Isabelle Banks: “There’s a lot of exciting parts to it, but there are a couple of scenes where things get revealed and a few breakdowns. The end is definitely a shocker.”
Darren Otte: “Probably when we are all in a heated argument debating whether the headmasters are in a relationship together or not.”
Q: “The Children’s Hour is often described as a dramatic play. Why is this?”
Emily Giorgio: “It’s because of the message. I don’t want to spoil the end, but it’s also because of how controversial it is. I also think that it’s set in the 1930s, and it’s a touchy topic right now, and back then, especially. It’s just not a comedy. There are some parts that may seem funny, but it’s a very serious play.”
Isabelle Banks: “Overall, the message is heavy, and the things that are revealed take a lot out of the characters. You can see the tolls that these rumors take on the characters, which makes it pretty dramatic, and everyone’s reactions towards events just escalate the plot.”
Darren Otte: “The play is dramatic because you have everything – love affairs, marriages, granddaughter and grandmother relationships, cliffhangers all over the place. There’s also a big ending, which is just buried emotion. It will be a great show.”
Q: “Will there be any surprises that the audience can look forward to in The Children’s Hour?”
Isabelle Banks: “Yes. They’re not the happiest, but the ending is definitely a surprise. Honestly, at the end of every act there is something uncovered, so you can be looking forward to that next big thing.”
Darren Otte: “There are a few surprises. I have mentioned this a few times, but the ending is the biggest surprise.”
Q: “Are you having any issues with getting prepared for the performance?”
Emily Giorgio: “Line memorization. It’s a challenge that everybody faces. I think as a group we’re actually doing very well.”
Isabelle Banks: “Individually, I was having trouble memorizing some of my lines. It’s a matter of finding time to do it. Whether it’s at lunch, before rehearsals, or in between scenes, you have to make time for it. As a group we haven’t had much time to prepare, and I think we’re doing well with that. It will come together. There’s just a lot more work to do.”
Q: “What’s it like to be a part of The Children’s Hour?”
Emily Giorgio: “It’s very different for me because I do have a main part, and it’s weird since I have so many lines. It’s just different from the other shows. I like how it’s dramatic. It allows us to act to the best of our abilities. It is fun too. We have a lot of fun moments.”
Isabelle Banks: “It’s a fun environment. Our director is amazing, and she’s really understandable. That sets the stage for a good show, where everybody cares about and helps each other.”
Darren Otte: “It’s just a very close knit group of people. I’ve been getting to know some of the underclassmen really well, and it’s a great experience.”
