This year has seen the arrival of eight new faculty members to the Saints staff, among them the new drama director, Mr. Joe Slevcove. He has shown great enthusiasm in further developing the drama department and technical theater program. He debuted as the Saints director with the classic Neil Simon play, The Odd Couple.

“Just like any new director, I’ve come with my new style and approach to both directing and acting,” he said. “I am excited especially for the last phase of Saints [construction]. With the new performing arts center, a project for which we will have input in the design, the sky’s the limit. It will allow us to go deeper into professional quality theater as well as to really train people in all the backstage theater technical aspects.”

The Odd Couple, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, was shown at the OLP theatre. The play starred senior Jacob Maybo as Felix Ungar, a neurotic, neat freak journalist, who is thrown out by his wife, and moves in with his friend Oscar Madison, a divorced, slovenly sportswriter who was played by sophomore Liam Brucker Casey. Despite Oscar’s problems – careless spending, excessive gambling, a poorly kept house filled with spoiled food – he seems to enjoy life.

Felix, however, is utterly incapable of enjoying anything and only finds purpose in pointing out his own and others’ mistakes and foibles. Even when he tries to do so in a gentle and constructive way, his corrections and suggestions infuriate those around him. Oscar, frustrated by Felix’s prim and proper perfectionism, is pushed to the breaking point after Felix commits one too many transgressions.

“It was an excellent play. Everyone was really proud of our leads, Jake and Liam. We like that although Mr. Slevcove is our director, he is open to suggestions and gives the actors the liberty to do what they feel best fits the scene,” said senior Tom Parashos.

“I pushed the actors to be the best of their character and they did not disappoint which makes me very proud,” Mr. Slevcove said. “I was very pleased on how our cast and crew worked together. I felt that we connected very well, which was evident by all of our quality work.”

The cast was very thankful to the crew.

“The sound and light guys were really helpful and worked well with Mr. Slevcove and the cast,” said sophomore Liam Brucker-Casey (Oscar). “The crew members working backstage were also vital. From building the set, to accommodating all of the actors with their props, they worked really hard and I think that was evident in the final performances.”

In store for the drama department later this school year is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a musical which they will bring to life this spring. Auditions will be the first week of intersession. The department hopes to expand their horizons by bringing in new ideas and additions to the play and set itself. The improv team, a branch of the department that trains in the art of improvisation, will continue to meet on Fridays.

Although the curtains have been drawn, we can only imagine what Mr. Slevcove and his crew have up their sleeves. With his experience and the help of directors before him, he is determined to bring the drama department to the pinnacle of its potential.

• Dario Gutierrez