By Jody Tuso-Key: Managing Editor

Photo Credit: Erin Williamson “Brown Dog Sports Photography”

GAINESVILLE, GA – I don’t often do reviews on high school shows unless they are spectacular, and Troupe 2445 at Gainesville High School is making a spectacle of themselves in the best way possible with their production of  RIDE THE CYCLONE. You don’t have much time on this one as it only plays for two more performances, October 3rd at 7:00 pm and October 5th at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $15 online https://ghs2445.booktix.com/ and $20 at the door. 

I first saw this show at Alliance Theatre in May of 2019 and it became one of my favorite musicals of all time. This is the story of 6 high-school students from the Saint Cassian Chamber Choir who met their demise upon a roller coaster named the Cyclone. It is a dark comedy of epic proportions. Think PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE meets FOREVER PLAID and you’ll get some idea about the plot line. This 80 minute one-act school edition introduces you to the six students from the town of Uranium in Saskatchewan, Canada. They are thrown from the roller coaster in a freak accident as the axle breaks at the apex of the loop-de-loop, and we meet them in the afterlife. They find themselves in a type of purgatory limbo where they meet the Amazing Karnak — a Zoltar type machine that is able to predict deaths, and told the students’ fortunes just before their demise. Karank becomes a celestial game show host and demands each angsty teenager make a case for themselves. The winner will be awarded the chance to return to earth and continue their lives.

I love this show for a high school troupe because it’s relatable to their age. I’m always a fan of high school students playing content that is age appropriate, so I’m happy to see director Tyra Wimpy choose this amazing musical as a competition piece (it will be their Georgia State One-Act  Competition piece this month and is also in the running to be performed at the Georgia Thespian Conference in February). Tyra’s vision for this show was spot-on, and she tells me she’s never seen it performed before. The spooky shadow image of Jane Doe at the beginning, the intricate harmonies and strong vocals (Vocal Durector Portia Burns), The awesome authenticity of the Karnak machine down to the last detail as well as the repurposing of a set from Gentleman’s Guide (Set the Stage, Atlanta), the visually stunning projections (Bryson Little) the fun and challenging choreography (Courtney Locke), the intricate lights (Mae Burnette, Darion Allen, Siler Little), sensational sound (Portia Burns),  and all the great costumes (production crew), props (production crew), and finally hair and makeup (Jameson Murray) make this show stand out and give it a professionalism only seen at the best high school performances. Let’s not forget the contribution of the boosters and the amazing front of house design (Ginnie Early, Enemies of the Average). From the time you walk into the theater, you will be immersed in a carnival atmosphere. 

This is a very demanding show for the actors, as the 6 characters stay on stage almost the entire time, and even when they aren’t featured, need to stay in character in the background, sometimes reacting to the action, at other times interacting with each other or their own inner dialogue. All the performers are triple threats – fully invested in their characters, have great vocals, and impressive dance and movement skills. The most difficult thing for young performers to learn is comedic timing. Kudos to these seven young actors for knowing how to get the laughs. I know it’s a good show comically when it’s able to draw some deep belly laughs out of me (if you know my loud laugh, you’ll know I’m enjoying the show as I don’t hold back). 

The performers were all incredible. Esther Nwefo as the Amazing Karnak truly has the audience convinced the character is a carnival attraction, even down to the glitches that occur as a mouse eats through the power cord of the machine. Karnac provides continuity and exposition throughout the performance, and plays god in allowing one of the members of the choir to return to earth. Each of the other characters goes through a revelation or transformation in this carnival purgatory: Conceited Ocean O’Conell Rosenburg (Scarlett Early), “the most successful girl in town’ grows from her self-centered attitude into a person who sacrifices her own happiness for that of someone else; Exchange student Mischa Bachinski (Kahleel Dowell), ‘the angriest boy in town’, reveals that he is more than a superficial Ukrainian rapper wanna be as he reveals his love for his fiance back home; Flamboyant Noel Gruber, ‘the most romantic boy in town’ is a gay young person who comes further out of the closet in a grand display; Unassuming Ricky Potts (Emiliano Perez), ‘the most imaginative boy in town’, is a boy who doesn’t speak and needs crutches on Earth. He reveals his extensive imagination once he is able to talk and walk unaided in the afterlife in a world that includes himself as the hero of a planet of cats; Humble Constance Blackwood (Jaelin McPhaul), described as ‘the nicest girl in town’, realizes she’s more than just Ocean’s minion and comes into her own as she realizes she loves her small town. Finally, Clueless Jane Doe (Aiden Baker), is not given a superlative, and is a baseless character who lost her head in the accident. As a result, in the reality of the accident as well as the afterlife, she is unidentified. Even Karnak doesn’t remember telling her fortune.  

So I say to the cast and crew of GHS – Very well done!! This show is definitely Speakeysie recommended and worth every penny! Also, don’t forget to buy concessions as the proceeds go to troupe members Georgia Thespian Conference Dues.

Thanks to GHS Troupe 2445 for helping me forget my troubles and attend a great show!

Peace be with you, thanks for your readership, and enjoy the show!!

Author’s note: I had to throw this gallery of pics from my personal experience with the Coney Island Cyclone back in 2022. Unlike the St. Cassian Chamber Choir students, I lived to tell about it.