Penn-Trafford High School’s drama guild hosted performances of “The Mouse that Roared,” a play revolving around a small country that declares war on the United States, on Nov. 16-17.  

     Student director Madelynn Petrillo discussed some of the challenges that came with the season. 

     “A lot of people kept getting hurt, to be honest with you,” she said, in reference to a student who had gotten a concussion, and another who performed the show on crutches.  

     She added how it was difficult to get everyone at the same place, at the same time.  

     Petrillo, a senior, helped to take notes and critique students in her role as student director.  She said how she enjoys watching characters and roles develop overtime. The concept was not foreign to her as she worked backstage prior to this and has been involved with multiple performances in the past.  

     She says the drama guild is “always at the top of [their] game…we come ready to work,” 

     Senior and lead role actress Anna Johnston also saw some personal challenges that accompanied the production.  

     “It’s unlike any role I’ve ever played…she’s very realistic,” said Johnston.  Johnston had the role of Gloriana, the duchess of Fenwick. She said how being “bossy” like the ruler was a difficult task, especially when she was surrounded by her peers.  She was eventually able to grasp the role and embrace it.  

     What came with the fall play, as it does every year,  was new actors and actresses, mostly freshmen excited for their first year of high school drama club.  

     Freshman Mia Confer, a student coming from Penn Middle, said that the middle school’s drama club, though being more “relaxed and informal,” prepared her for the high school.  

     She portrayed a student protester and sight-seer, and one of the main struggles was having to scream often, which led to her having a sore throat.  

     Confer said, “Because this isn’t a common play, we had to actually start understanding it before we couldn put it on.”  She added she was glad that the audience laughed and that the performances had a good turn out.  

     Senior Madison Pleins, a news reporter in the show, had costume changes within very few lines, and had to learn three new accents to accurately portray her character.  

     “It was hard, but I’m very proud of myself for learning how to do it,” Pleins said. 

     Throughout the duration of play, including practices and performances, the thing students said stuck with them most was the friendships and laughs they made backstage.  

     They all agreed that they were able to rise above the challenges they were presented.  Petrillo would like to remind everyone to “try out for Footloose!” the spring musical at PTHS. 

Lydia Anderson, Staff Writer