After a mother and daughter accidentally switch bodies, a hilarious race against the clock ensues to make things right before the mom’s wedding in Andover High School Theatre’s spring play “Freaky Friday,” with its closing shows May 3-5.
“The cast has enjoyed the upbeat, contemporary music in ‘Freaky Friday,’ and the script is really funny,” director Ann Leaf-Johnson said. “Many of them were already familiar with the story from the different movies that had come out, or they had seen the version of the musical available on Disney+. We alternate between classic and contemporary musicals, so it’s been fun to create this show that most people will not have seen on stage before. It’s a special kind of challenge to interest people in a story they don’t already have lots of associations with. I hope audiences will give a new musical a chance and enjoy learning these new songs.”
Having lead characters who have switched bodies adds to the laughs, but has also required a strong cast to pull off the complex twist on stage.
“I think this cast and crew has really enjoyed the awesome music this show has,” said junior Genna Dumas, who plays Katherine Blake. “It was an honor to watch our rehearsals just kept improving every week and finally hearing everyone’s voices come together to make this beautiful sound was truly a joy for us all. What I enjoy most about my character is her emotional development. Ellie is trapped in an older and supposedly wiser woman’s body but she soon realizes that adults have more freedom and stress than she had previously believed. I love how Ellie represents the emotional growth of a young woman as she enters the adult world, unapologetically free. What is really unique about this musical is the meaning within the words and music. Every moment someone is talking or singing or even just a quiet moment of peace has a purpose or comedic effect. This has been an incredible show to work with and all of cast, crew, and pit are extremely excited to share it!”
“I think the cast has definitely enjoyed working on all aspects of it, but especially working on the gags and jokes written in the script and comedy we can put into it ourselves,” said senior Ava O’Brian, who plays Ellie Blake. “It’s a really special mix of funny and heartfelt, and I think everyone has grown connected to it. Ellie is a misunderstood girl who takes out her emotions, which she herself doesn’t understand, on her mother in order to try and deal with the grief of losing her father. I know I can relate to this greatly, as I’m sure many others can as well. But what’s special about Ellie in this show is that you can actively see her grow and change throughout the course of it and see her begin to understand and express empathy through her switch with her mother. She and Katherine grow as people before the audience’s eyes, and that’s really beautiful to me.”
“I don’t think I can think of any other musicals where the leads switch bodies,” Palashewski said. “Due to that it seems more difficult to cast, but our Ellie and Katherine were picked very well!”
The cast has enjoyed a strong bond, fueling the excitement in a play packed with bedlam.
“The most enjoyable part of rehearsals was spending time with all my friends and making amazing memories with them,” said senior Jonathan Johnson-Maldonado, who plays Adam. “Working on a show together has helped us all grow together and it has made it a wonderful experience. I play the character Adam, who is very fun to play. I love the role because his personality is very outgoing and fun to perform. Also, I get to sing about how much I love sandwiches. This play stands out to me because it speaks on family struggles and shows us how love is always alive.”
“We have enjoyed the amount of team bonding we have done,” said senior Vexin Ruddy, who plays Torrey. “There has been ups and downs, but overall it has been an amazing experience and a great last show for seniors. My character Torrey is one of my favorite characters I’ve played. She is the assistant to Katherine and goes through so much character development! This play has so much chaos to it!! It is probably one of the most visually stimulating shows we have done.”
“The thing I’ve enjoyed most has definitely been making new friends and getting close with people who were previously only acquaintances,” said senior Bren Palashewski, who plays Mike. “The theater environment at Andover High School is very jovial and I feel it’s almost easier to make friends when you’re playing a character. I’m very glad I joined theater again in my senior year, as it has allowed me to reignite my love for acting and being on stage. The thing I enjoy most about my character Mike is his kindness and willingness to deescalate a rough situation. I feel strongly that we need more people in this world with unwavering kindness and support, and I think Mike is a great example of that.”
“I think the cast has definitely enjoyed the bonding experience the most,” said senior Ashton Thoburn, who plays Fletcher. “We see each other nearly every day for at least two hours. It’s amazing the way we all become like family. I love getting to do fun voices for Fletcher; he’s a silly character who’s obsessed with puppets, and it’s a lot of fun to use them and do voices for them. I think his passion for his puppets makes him very special … I also love how annoying he is to his sister/mom! I think the humor of the characters makes this play unique. The characters just make fun of themselves throughout while also telling a sweet story about family. There’s plenty of times to laugh throughout the show and yet the show is still really sweet.”
“My favorite thing about preparing for this musical was definitely the music,” said senior Morgan Johnson, who plays Gretchen. “All of the songs are so much fun and I love getting to perform them. The character I play is Gretchen, who I really enjoy playing because I get to be in a lot of scenes with my best friends and I get quite a few solos too! I think this musical is unique because it is based around current times and our costumes are close to what we would actually wear.”
In the midst of the wealth of laughs, the play takes on deep, relatable subjects as well.
“By tackling themes of grief, loss, coming of age, womanhood, and what the love and bond of a mother and daughter means in a modern setting, ‘Freaky Friday’ conveys a story that everyone can relate to in some way that is especially unique, sincere, and special,” O’Brian said.
Remaining performances are Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m.; Saturday,
To purchase tickets, visit www.showtix4u.com/event-details/83131.
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