“Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!”
This is a quote from Auntie Mame, this year’s 11/12 play. Starting November 22, the Hunterdon Central Drama Club will be performing a reenactment of the classic production.
The play Auntie Mame is based on the 1955 novel about Mame Dennis, a free-spirited woman who lives in Manhattan. She suddenly obtains care of her nephew, Patrick, who is the son of a very wealthy man. The play mainly follows the story of Mame and Patrick’s experiences together.
After Patrick’s father suddenly dies, Mame is left to find a way to raise and take care of him. Although Mame is a very “happy-go-lucky” and spontaneous person, she soon realizes she needs to change. Her goal throughout the story is to expose Patrick to the real, unfiltered world. She wants to make sure that he is safe and protected from the bubble that his father created for him so she can show him all society has to offer. Patrick grew up in a very sheltered environment, living with his reserved father who rarely allowed him to experience the world outside their wealthy household. After his passing, Patrick is left with a void that his aunt is more than happy to fill. She decides that she will slowly start showing Patrick her perspective of the world, and expose him to the broad spectrum of all it has to offer, particularly Manhattan. This is put on hold when the stock market suddenly crashes, forcing Mame to get a job and work to care for Patrick. When Mame is faced with new financial issues, how will she fix it? Is there any way she will still be able to care for him in the way he needs?
The play shows different themes of freedom and rebellion against societal norms while showing what it is like to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. As Mame exposes Patrick to the real world of creativity and acceptance, he suddenly realizes that the world is so much bigger than just financial situations and business. This play also touches on the struggles that come with Mame’s outgoing lifestyle, including how her financial struggles might cost her the only person she considers family. After living a very sheltered life with his father, who deeply disapproved of Mame and her lifestyle, Mame had an intense impact on Patrick. Patrick was able to explore the many opportunities and freedoms of the world that he otherwise would not have. After spending time with Mame, Patrick is left with a strong message about the importance of being yourself and making the most of life’s experiences. It teaches viewers that whatever challenge you are faced with, you should try your best to take the optimistic route, rather than just viewing everything as a challenge.
Putting on a show is a very tedious process that requires a lot of patience, time, and especially hard work. The drama club is known for putting on many extremely well-acted and well-produced shows. Hunterdon Central Drama Club spent many long hours preparing for this show, prompting excitement among many students. When asked why she was excited to see the show, Alexandra Kraatz, a sophomore, expressed her interest.“ I can’t wait to watch the show, I have a few friends on the cast and I know that they have been working hard to put this show together. I’m so excited to go see it!” The production is leaving many in suspense, as they can’t wait to see how the cast put together the show after spending many weeks working on it. However, we know that it is sure to be an enjoyable experience!
