Great Scot September 2019 Great Scot 157_September 2019_ONLINE | Page 40

Drama
LOTS OF
REASONS TO
BE IN A PLAY –
DESPITE
THE TITLE
The 2019 Year 8 Production, 30 Reasons
Not To Be in a Play by Alan Haehnel, is a
very funny little play, setting out 30 very good
reasons why you should not be in a play. For
example, it can cause conjunctivitis, give you
warts (from holding hands with the wrong
cast member) and, much more dramatically,
even lead to catastrophic weather conditions.
The play was staged in the Geoffrey
McComas Theatre from 31 March to 2 April,
in conjunction with MLC. Here is a reflection
by JACK ARMSTRONG of Year 8.
The Year 8 play, for me, was an amazing
experience. Some people ask why you’d
want to do a play, and I usually say ‘simply
because it’s fun’, but there is obviously
much more to it than that. It’s not just about
the play and the rehearsing, it’s about the
experience and the process of meeting
random people (of the opposite gender) and
becoming and progressing as friends while
the play develops.
It took up so much time in my week in the
best way possible. When we had a rehearsal
after school, my friends and I were excited
and couldn’t wait – it literally made the whole
day seem so much better, therefore meaning
that throughout the whole term there was
something to look forward to.
When I think of Term 1, I generally think
‘wow, that was short’, but when I look back
at everything that happened, it was actually
incredibly long and jam packed. At the start
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Great Scot Number 157 – September 2019
of the play it was hilarious how shy and
awkward everyone was with each other, but
now we’re all so close it’s as if we’re family.
I honestly can’t remember what it was like
without the people I’ve met.
Due to social media and the land known
as Glenferrie Road, we all got to know
each other very quickly. Because we were
doing all of these things separate to the play
rehearsals, Mr Waugh seemed shocked,
as every time we arrived at rehearsal it was
clear that we had all got to know each other
so well. All of the cast and crew were so nice
and genuine, and I think every boy has made
some sort of a connection with many of the
girls – I know that I certainly have.
The play also gave me many
opportunities, such as speaking in Memorial
Hall. Sure, I was completely terrified doing
it, but it was good to see what it’s like,
and I now know that I will easily have the
confidence to present the daily notices when
I am in Year 12.
All in all, the play was possibly the best
experience I have had at Scotch so far. It
made the term so much more fun, and I
found some friends for life. Although the
play was called 30 Reasons Not To Be In A
Play, those are just a few reasons why you
definitely should be in a play!