Penn-Trafford to bring Shakespeare ‘play within a play’ to stage this weekend

The Penn-Trafford High School Drama Guild will bring a twist on a Shakespeare classic to the stage this weekend for the first time in about two decades.

The drama guild will perform “Romeo and Juliet: Together and Alive At Last,” a story about two middle school students, Anabell and Pete, who are too shy to confess their feelings for one another. Their classmates stage a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” to bring the two together, but trouble shortly follows.

Director Tom Bekavac, who has been involved with the drama guild for more than 30 years, estimates the last time Penn-Trafford performed Shakespeare was for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in the late ‘90s.

Helping the cast learn how to enunciate Shakespeare’s writing was key in rehearsals, said Director Janine Hribal.

“I hope (audiences) come to realize that these P-T kids can do Shakespeare,” said Hribal, who has helped with Penn-Trafford productions for about 10 years.

The show caught the production team’s eye with its lighthearted humor and unique layout, Bekavac said. The show comes across as a “play within a play,” with cast members switching from playing middle schoolers to Shakespearean characters within minutes, he said.

Learning how to portray a shy Anabell versus a bold, confident Juliet has been challenging, said Sophia Laspina.

“You have to kind of play two completely different characters in one show,” said Laspina, 17, a senior.

For Carter Reyes, who will portray Pete and Romeo, the main focus has been learning the ropes for his first theater production.

Reyes has always had a passion for acting, he said, but he gathered the courage to audition for the first time this fall.

“(God) helped me overcome my fear and encouraged me to audition,” said Reyes, 16, a junior. “He is the one who blessed me with my role that I have.”

Reyes’ castmates have helped him feel comfortable in the theater community, he said.

“The cast is wonderful — I would argue the best part of the show and the rehearsals,” Reyes said.

The cast is closer this year than in past productions, Laspina said.

“I think we all get along very well,”she said “I think there’s a lot of great friendships and just getting to know everybody has definitely helped a lot.”

And these tight bonds translate onstage, Bekavac said.

“They were just very natural together, Sophia and Carter,” he said. “They have good chemistry on stage and that means a lot.”

Seeing each element of the show come together — from costumes to stage design to lighting — has contributed to Reyes’ excitement for audiences to see the show, he said.

“I’m really hoping that this show can entertain the audience and make them laugh,” he said.