MONROE - It might not look too graceful now, but when the curtain goes up on the play "The Monroe Gold Files," the fight scene between two rival gangs will be flawless.
At least that's the intention of Stephen Eliasson, who wrote the play to honor Monroe's sesquicentennial.
The 12 high school students involved with the fight scene have spent several hours already to make sure they memorize all of the moves required for the scene. They have several more days of rehearsal before they're ready to take the stage when the play opens Nov. 13.
They will need the practice to make the scene believable to the audience.
Not that they don't have talent and not because they aren't doing well, however. It's a scene that has to look like three students are being ambushed by a rival gang and it's an important part of the play.
Eliasson said the fight scene itself, which is choreographed down to the tiniest details, takes about 30 seconds to perform but includes between 50 and 100 moves for the students.
"Everyone has to know where they are and what everyone around them is doing. Otherwise they'll be bumping into each other," Eliasson said. "They each have to watch their partner. There's a lot of acting during the combat."
Anika Nelson, one of the performers in the scene, said it was a challenge but she's had a lot of fun.
"Some of the flipping is hard, but we'll get a lot of practice," she said.
Portions of the fight scene include students lifting each other over their shoulders and over their backs to create a sense of violence, which doesn't really exist. The moves have to be done just right or someone could get hurt," Eliasson explained.
"If, while you're doing the scene, you don't feel comfortable for any reason, tell your partner to stop," he told his performers as they rehearsed Saturday.
There were a couple of times during rehearsal when the actors felt their backs crack as they were hoisted in the air, but no one was injured. Eliasson made sure to explain each move and to let each of the actors take their time to make sure they did every move the way it was supposed to be done.
"The Monroe Gold Files" will be performed Nov. 13-16 at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets are available at the door or at Kidz Kloset or by calling 325-3537.
At least that's the intention of Stephen Eliasson, who wrote the play to honor Monroe's sesquicentennial.
The 12 high school students involved with the fight scene have spent several hours already to make sure they memorize all of the moves required for the scene. They have several more days of rehearsal before they're ready to take the stage when the play opens Nov. 13.
They will need the practice to make the scene believable to the audience.
Not that they don't have talent and not because they aren't doing well, however. It's a scene that has to look like three students are being ambushed by a rival gang and it's an important part of the play.
Eliasson said the fight scene itself, which is choreographed down to the tiniest details, takes about 30 seconds to perform but includes between 50 and 100 moves for the students.
"Everyone has to know where they are and what everyone around them is doing. Otherwise they'll be bumping into each other," Eliasson said. "They each have to watch their partner. There's a lot of acting during the combat."
Anika Nelson, one of the performers in the scene, said it was a challenge but she's had a lot of fun.
"Some of the flipping is hard, but we'll get a lot of practice," she said.
Portions of the fight scene include students lifting each other over their shoulders and over their backs to create a sense of violence, which doesn't really exist. The moves have to be done just right or someone could get hurt," Eliasson explained.
"If, while you're doing the scene, you don't feel comfortable for any reason, tell your partner to stop," he told his performers as they rehearsed Saturday.
There were a couple of times during rehearsal when the actors felt their backs crack as they were hoisted in the air, but no one was injured. Eliasson made sure to explain each move and to let each of the actors take their time to make sure they did every move the way it was supposed to be done.
"The Monroe Gold Files" will be performed Nov. 13-16 at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets are available at the door or at Kidz Kloset or by calling 325-3537.