AN INSIDER’S LOOK INTO THE SPRING PLAY: CHECK OUT NEIGHBORHOOD 3 By AUDREY BUFFI

Three reasons to go see “Neighborhood 3”, which will be performed at Coventry High School on March 8, 9, and 10, at 7:30 p.m.:
The play serves as “an eye-opener for kids and teens” to see an alternate perspective of the technology debate.
Not only is the play relatable for kids, “but parents can also relate to the parents in the show as well.”
“It will make audiences laugh, it will freak people out, and it will remind them of themselves in a lot of ways.”

AN INSIDER’S LOOK INTO THE SPRING PLAY:  CHECK OUT NEIGHBORHOOD 3

By AUDREY BUFFI

It’s almost spring once again, and that means it’s time to anticipate the newest spring play from the Coventry High School drama club.  This year, the drama club will be performing “Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom”, which centers around a fictional video game called “Neighborhood 3.”

“Kids become utterly consumed playing the game, and in the show the audience follows multiple scenes that depict the repercussions of that addiction,” said Allison Vanasse, senior.

Vanasse has been involved with numerous CHS productions, and recently portrayed antagonist Heather Chandler from the fall production of “Heathers the Musical.”  In “Neighborhood 3”, Vanasse plays a mother, as does Sabrina Peltier, another senior involved in the drama club.

Peltier has held multiple roles at CHS, such as title character Lizzie Borden (2015) and cynical puppet Gary Coleman from the musical Avenue Q (2016).  She claims that this play, however, is a unique show compared to others:

“This show involves some interesting technical elements that other shows haven’t.  The audience is literally taken into the game,” Peltier explained.  In addition, while recent competition shows have been “very dark”, this show has humorous notes to brighten the story.

After its debut at the high school, the CHS cast will be competing with “Neighborhood 3” at the Rhode Island Drama Festival on March 17.

When asked what makes competition plays different from other plays, Jacob Card, sophomore, explained that the play must follow certain guidelines, such as a strict one-hour time limit.

Card, having held roles on and offstage, such as sound director for “Avenue Q” and antagonist Kurt Kelly in “Heathers the Musical”, now plays young Jared, bullied for his deformities.  Card remarked that competition plays “have a deeper sense of meaning”, as “[the drama club] is actually sending an important message through the arts.”

As senior Delaney Ryan explained, at the end of the Festival, “two plays will be chosen to present their play at the New England Festival,”  Ryan acted as title character Mary Girard in last year’s spring play, which won at the state level.

Finally, 3 reasons to go see “Neighborhood 3”, which will be performed at Coventry High School on March 8, 9, and 10, at 7:30 p.m.:

1. The play serves as “an eye opener for kids and teens” to see an alternate perspective of the technology debate, claimed Card.
2. Not only is the play relatable for kids, “but parents can also relate to the parents in the show,” said Vanasse, encouraging adults to see the play as well.
3. According to Ryan, “it will make audiences laugh, it will freak people out, and it will remind them of themselves in a lot of ways.”