The Spitfire Grill
The Upper School musical this year is The Spitfire Grill, an uplifting story depicting the small town of Gilead’s revival after taking in Percy, a kind, hardworking young woman with a difficult past. The story is one of hope, highlighting the importance of second chances, and the wondrous effects that a single person can have on a whole community.
Familiar faces of the Overlake Drama program will be on stage singing, acting, and dancing at and on the tables of the Spitfire Grill restaurant. After appearing in many Overlake shows, senior Lucy Stearns takes on the role of Percy, as she little by little wins over the town of Gilead. Kate Lawson also sports a lengthy Overlake resume as she plays Shelby, a good-natured citizen of Gilead. Abby Rubin will be playing Hannah Ferguson, the direct and sometimes cranky elderly owner of the Grill.
Several actors will be making their in-person upper school acting debuts in the Spitfire. While it may be the first show he can drive himself to, sophomore Reid Hu is no stranger to musical theater. Many may remember him as Jojo in Seussical the Musical, and soon he will portray Joe, the sheriff of Gilead. Reid says, “One of the nice things about Seussical was that it was the all-school musical, so I got to work with people who were in high school when I was in middle school. Now some of those same people are [in the Spitfire Grill], and it’s nice that I’ve already done a show with them.” Reid adds that the musical “does feel more intense, now that I’m in high school, the fifth avenue awards are now available and in high school, acting is just judged at a higher level.” Aneesha Needamangala, another sophomore, will play the role of Effy, the Gilead “town crier.” Aneesha says Effy “is very different from characters I’ve played in the past, and I really love her energy.” Although in the small town of Gilead, Aneesha recognizes that “other characters get annoyed by Effy a lot, since she’s up in everyone’s business, but at the same time she has a good heart.” Sophomore Aleksey Umbers plays Eli, a silent mysterious character with important ties to Gilead. Umbers says that “I’ve done actually a lot of musicals before.” When asked what’s unique about playing a role with no words Aleksy says, “The main thing that’s unique is that I’m silent the whole time, and it’s a musical, which includes a lot of music and noise, but I think that being the only quiet character actually puts a lot of attention on me.” He jokes “I’m all about the attention, I like the attention, at the very end I stand up on this platform, I’m above everyone else, and I feel like I am superior to everyone else.” He adds “But on a more serious, less joking, note, I have a very deep thought process when I’m acting. I have my reasons for not saying anything, and that helps me have a good stage presence.”
And it's true, The Spitfire Grill is no joking matter, with scenes that will make you jump in your seat, and others that will warm your heart. So, if you want to watch this touching story of a community healing together, while watching your peers sing their hearts out, go see The Spitfire Grill!
