'Daisy Pulls It Off' brings schoolgirl antics to Bishop Stang Theatre

Dec 1, 2015

The quirky, sprawling double-faced revolving set residing on the Bishop Stang High School Theatre Company stage was befitting for the witty affair that is "Daisy Pulls It Off."

Written by Denise Deegan, the play is inspired by a series of wholesome stories by Angela Brazil about girls from a British boarding school in the 1920s.

The comedy follows Daisy Meredith, one of the boarding school students who is subjected to pranks from her more well-to-do peers. These stories are notable because J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, was inspired by these school girls' adventures, said Bishop Stang Theatre Director Maurice Ouellette.

Daisy juggles her daily life as a student-athlete with saving the rest of her classmates from certain death and solving the mystery of the secret treasure. The play is interactive and whimsical. As a parody of Brazil's stories, the characters are zany.

"We break the fourth wall quite often and actors will come out of character and actually talk to the audience...sort of in a tongue-in-cheek way," Ouellette said.

Simone Payette, 16, stars as Daisy Meredith who spends her time at Grangewood School for Young Ladies searching for treasure, solving mysteries and a host of other adventures with her friend, Trixie Martin, played by Sydney Morin, 18.

With a "soap opera-like" assortment of events ranging from searching out lost treasure to finding someone's missing father, the comedy has something for everyone, said Morin.

Both Payette and Morin stepped up to the plate after some changes in the cast occurred. However, according to Payette, the recasting has given them both "a chance to grow."

Despite the challenges the roles presented, the two have had tremendous fun along the way.

"The cast... that's always my favorite part about production is getting to know people better and getting to make connections," Payette said.

Payette's mother was a Bishop Stang alum who still has friends from her high school days that she's very close with.

"It's kind of nice to know I'm making friends now that I'm going to have for the rest of my life," Payette added.

"They're just so warm and welcoming," Morin said.

A big factor in selecting this particular play is because of its resonant anti-bullying message.

"That's why I chose this play because I felt it was quite apropos because so many schools are on this anti-bullying campaign," he added.

Students from local elementary schools were invited to attend a Friday morning showing of the play and will be given a chance to ask questions and interact with the cast in regards to anti-bullying.

"Even in comedies, there can be some very serious themes," Ouellette said.

Parents, friends, students and the Bishop Stang art department were recruited to help construct the enormous set. One side is the sprawling interior of the boarding school while the other is the facade of a cliff. It was built upon 46 casters to wheel it into position.

The play is open to the public with curtain time at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4 with an encore presentation on Saturday, Dec. 5.