NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT
Cast members Olivia Rivard and Cadence Brown engage in a tug-of-war as Jericho Raneses and Natalie Pacholek look on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 during rehearsal for “Freaky Friday.” The Monsignor McCoy High School production is at the Medicine Hat College Eresman Theatre May 10-11 at 7 p.m.
cbrown@medicinehatnews.com@MHNBrown
It’s rare to find anyone who’s a fan of teenage attitude, but it is coming in handy at Monsignor McCoy High School this month.
The school’s drama department presents “Freaky Friday” this weekend. Shows, at the Medicine Hat College Eresman Theatre, go May 10-11 at 7 p.m. The storyline sees an overworked mother and her teenage daughter swap bodies and they have just one day to make things right before the mother’s wedding.
Gabriela Fernandez plays the mother Katherine, but actually portrays the teenage Ellie for most of the show. Portraying a teenager is naturally coming easy to Fernandez, who says the attitude is the key.
“Since I am a teenager I just embody myself,” she said, “and give all the attitude.”
Director Pat Weisgerber said that attitude is a big part of the role.
“She’s that normal teenager that has that attitude, that little bit of teenage angst.”
Weisgerber said the other lead, Olivia Rivard, is also doing a great job with the “dual roles.”
“The leads themselves are doing a great job,” he said. “To switch characters and transform yourself and play two distinct characters who take on the other person’s persona and the other person’s characteristics, they’re doing it amazingly convincingly.”
As with Fernandez, Rivard’s time as the teenager is coming a little easier to her, Weisgerber said. He adds that watching her “transform and convincingly transform into the mom is very cool to see.”
Fernandez may be a co-lead in the show, but her favourite part is all about the team.
“I like a lot of the school scenes where everyone is involved and everyone gets to sing and perform because we’re all together,” she said.
Weisgerber also had praise for the team, saying it’s amazing what 14 kids can do to bring a show to life.
Tickets, $15, are available at mhcbe.schoolcashonline.com or at the school office during regular hours.
