On Nov. 16-18, the Woodbridge High Theatre Department hosted Pillowtalk for their 2023 fall comedy show. Infused with 60s-themed costumes, decor and props, this romantic comedy engaged the audience with eccentric characters and witty dialogue.
“Pillowtalk is a story about Brad Allen and Jan Morrow and how they share a party line, but Brad is always using up the line and calling girls at all times of the day. Jan really does not like him and constantly yells at him to get off and share the line properly,” assistant stage manager Ashley Gurrola said. “Brad, however, doesn’t like this and creates a plan to disguise himself and make Jan fall in love with him under an alias Rex Sten
ston and a fake country accent.”
The show is credited for its clever design of props, set placement and sound effects which help to conjure the tone and mood of New York City during the 1960s. Jan’s fully-furnished two-story apartment set, the bustling of people and taxi cabs played overhead allowed the audience members to get a taste of the classic New York City experience, as though they walked along the streets together with Jan and Brad.
Most of the dialogue takes place between Jan and Brad on opposite sides of the set. They speak to each other through telephones as Brad switches between himself and his alternate persona Rex, all unbeknownst to Jan. Brad’s sarcastic and nonchalant guise combined with the comedic timing of the circumstances generated a few chuckles from the audience.
“I saw a lot of womanhood in [Jan] and she was a character that made the audience feel attached,” Jan’s actress Raya Hassanpour said. “Being such a big character with so much responsibility made me feel as though I had left a small little legacy in high school that I had yearned for.”
“Some challenges I encountered [as an assistant stage manager were] making sure to keep up with the script at all times, [making] sure that the actors and technicians knew when a scene change was coming up, [and] also keeping track of the props,” Gurrola said.
A total of 23 cast members and over 42 crew members aided by the producers and managers came together to ensure the 3-day production ran smoothly and efficiently.
“[As a producer], I provide the platform for [students] to create their art and I supervise them. The students definitely excelled way beyond expectations with acting and technical aspects,” producer Cassandra Gaona said.
Overall, the theatre department started off the 2023 season with another stellar performance under its belt.
