The only thing ‘Drowsy’ about this show is the title: Naselle actors don 1920s costumes for musical
Published 10:23 am Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Society lady Mrs. Tottendale, played by Hannah Haataia, is helped into her dress by maids Sallee Laine, Kenlee Spoor, Peyton Rose, Alicia Knight and Emilia Boggs, watched by the butler, Underling, played by Roman Cousineau, left.
Can you tell pastry chefs from gangsters? To the dismay of chorus girl Kitty (Alexa DePaul, at right), music promoter Feldzeig, played by Sierra Williams, is set upon by gangsters, at rear, played by Karsen Green and Shaylee Suomela, and chefs Mae Bryson, Kenzie Larson, Pilar Cousineau and Elisabeth Green.
Guests are gathering for a wedding in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” but will it take place? Around the table are Ashlyn Eastham, Jameson Green, Ashlyn Eastham, Lauren Steenerson and title character Kate Johnson. At rear are Milo Schell, Romain Garcia, Jordan Williams, Caesar Garcia and Hannah Hansen. In front is Rex Stalcup.
Arin Sabey plays Man in Chair, the narrator, who delights in playing his nostalgic music and dreaming of happy endings.
Violet Normand as starlet Janet Van de Graff demonstrates some attitude surrounded by adoring reporters in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” the Naselle Schools’ spring play being performed May 2-3 and May 9-10. The Fourth Estate is represented by Dakotah Williams, Klara Davis, Adelyn Ruch, Riley Jacobson and Avery Normand. More photos online at www.chinookobserver.com. Photos by PATRICK WEBB/For the Observer
Violet Normand is in her element.
In “The Drowsy Chaperone,” her character, Janet Van de Graff, is a 1920s starlet leaving show business to marry — but the theater owner and some gangsters are trying to dissuade her.
“I love being in the show. I love acting, and I feel like it fits my natural personality,” the sophomore said. “I am very over the top.”
The musical comedy will be performed 7 p.m. May 2-3 and May 9-10 at the Naselle Schools Theater. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and is payable at the door. Children 10 and under are admitted free.
The play is a true family effort, with Karli Nelson as director, sister Kayti Updike as assistant director and a third sister, Kelsi Nelson, leading the musical coaching and choreography. Their mom, Karen Nelson, a long-time Naselle teacher, has been assisting with the music, too.
Also behind the scenes are Greg Nelson and Jessica Miller helping with sets and props; sound cues are in the hands of Meg Laine with Sylvia Hoagland running the sound board; Will Creech-Ware is among those working on lights.
Skit into play
The script began as a skit for a party and morphed into a play at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 1998. It opened on Broadway in 2006, earning five Tony Awards; the Naselle version is titled “The Drowsy Chaperone Junior” and suitable for family audiences.
It opens in the apartment of an unnamed Man in Chair, played by Arin Sabey. He invites the audience to listen to his favorite recording of a 1920s Broadway musical titled “The Drowsy Chaperone,” while commenting on the state of the world and his desire for stories to have happy endings.
“I like being able to sit for most of it!” Sabey smiled, noting he has experience speaking directly to the audience. The style of the humor fluctuates, he added. “It depends on the character. Some is really goofy; mine is poking fun at the genre.”
Gangsters
The audience is introduced to a wealthy widow, Mrs. Tottendale, played by Hannah Haataia, and her butler, Underling, played by Roman Cousineau. They are gearing up for a society wedding between Normand’s character and an oil tycoon played by Caesar Garcia. Their best man, portrayed by Romain Garcia, is busily preparing for the nuptials.
Sierra Williams plays a music promoter called Feldzieg who wants the wedding stopped. He doesn’t want to lose Janet’s onstage talents because the mob boss who bankrolls the show will withdraw his funding. Two gangsters, who arrive in disguise to pressure him, are played by Karsen Green and Shaylee Suomela.
While a chorus girl (Alexa DePaul) begs to take Janet’s place, Feldzieg manipulates a wedding guest (Rex Stalcup) to woo the bride into calling off the wedding.
Kate Johnson appears in the title role, a character too drowsy to act as maid of honor. Klara Davis plays a female aviator who has an important role in the finale, and Alicia Knight is the Man in Chair’s building superintendent.
Other student actors are:
Reporters: Dakotah Williams, Riley Jacobson, Adelyn Ruch, Avery Normand and Davis;
Maids and butlers: Kenlee Spoor, Sallee Laine, Peyton Rose, Emilia Boggs and Knight;
Wedding guests: Hannah Hansen, Jordan Williams, Jameson Green, Milo Schell, Ashlyn Eastham and Lauren Steenerson;
Gangsters/chefs: Elisabeth Green, Kenzie Larson, Mae Bryson and Pilar Cousineau.
Solace
In her director’s program note, Karli Nelson notes that while Man in Chair may not experience it in real life, he finds comfort, retreat and solace in his recording. “We are left contemplating the importance of our own favorite musicals — or songs, books, TV shows, movies and art — to elevate our spirits and stabilize our souls when life makes us stumble.”
She has enjoyed putting the show together. “Kelsi was more familiar with the show, as she had seen it in college. We felt it was one that would work for the students that we have, and we wanted to do it at the high school but involve as many younger students as possible.”
She thrives on the buzz of marshaling her cast of 32. “We are the biggest team in the school!.”
IF YOU GO:
“The Drowsy Chaperone”
Naselle School play
7 p.m. May 2-3, 9-10
Naselle Schools Theater
Admission $10 adult, $5 student, at the door; children 10 and under free.
