LAC LA BICHE - Drama students from JA Williams (JAWS) High School in Lac La Biche took their acting talents to the stage of Portage College’s McGrane Theatre from May 26 and 27 for a performance of the lighthearted romantic comedy ‘Maybe Baby, It’s You.’
Throughout the production, the students acted in 11 different vignettes and short scenes that were about love and relationships. The scenes depicted the very beginning of love, from what young people are looking and finding the perfect soulmate, all the way to the not-so golden years of marriage - and everything in between.
Matt White, an assistant principal at JAWS who directed the school’s version of ‘Maybe Baby, It’s You,’ said the idea to put on the play came about when the students wanted to put on a major production, one that was comedic and lighthearted, but also had some meaning.
White explained that there are subtle undertones of relationship advice in every one of the vignettes and scenes.
“I gave the kids a bunch of script opportunities to choose from, and talking about what their interests were, and where they wanted to go. What can be more pertinent in a high school kid’s life these days than the thought of love and romance, and eventually where they’re going to spend their life?”
According to White, ‘Maybe Baby, It’s You’ starred approximately 25 kids in Grades 10 to 12. While some of these kids have performed in theatrical shows in the past, for many, this was their first time acting on stage.
Many drama productions typically have a handful of main characters, with other performers in supporting roles. However, for this show all the players had an equal footing while on stage.
“A lot of plays end up with one or two main lead roles, but with a script like this, there’s so many powerful roles for all the different opportunities,” he said. “We’ve got a really loaded cast.”
