The Tom Stoppard classic, On the Razzle, will hysterically appear on the Wayland High School Main Stage next week. This light-hearted production will charm the Main Stage audience from November 13th through 15th.

Wayland High School Theater Ensemble (WHSTE) actors and crew, under the direction of Richard W. Weingartner, Wayland High School’s Director of Drama, present the story of Herr Zangler, played by Tim Spinale, the twisted-tongued proprietor of an upscale grocery store in a small Austrian village. Zangler plans to marry Mme. Knorr, played by Olivia Goddard, the proprietor of a women’s clothing shop in Vienna. In preparation for his upcoming married life in the big city, Zangler orders a new wardrobe and hires the fast-talking Melchior (Thomas Leacu) as a personal assistant. He also arranges to send his niece, Marie (Tori Gitten), to his sister-in-law, Miss Blumenblatt (Larissa Sehringer), also in Vienna, to protect her from the penniless Sonders (Tommy Lewis) who is courting Marie against Zangler’s wishes.

As he departs for Vienna, Zangler entrusts the operation of his business to his garrulous head clerk, Weinberl (Sten Shearer), and his naive apprentice, Christopher (Melissa Smith) who decide to instead go “on the razzle,” also to Vienna, while Zangler is out of town. What a surprise they are in for when they all wind up in the same city!
The cast of supporting actors (Katie Cundari, Catriona Oliver, Parker Bryant, Veronika Golod, Jackson DiIanni, Naiya Davis, Andrea Ponce, Omar Rios, Tyler Johnsen, Clara Lagor, Melinda Kalanzis, Kate Brown, and Kira Ryter) add to the hilarity of the show. Staff members Megan Wohlfarth, Karl Obermiller, Clare Lippincott, Cindy Oliver, Isabelle Goodman, Kate Munsey, Katie Duffy, Ariella Fuzaylov, Maya Golod, Daniel Hochberger, Jessica DeMasi, Anthony Zou, and Alexandra Espiritusanto-Vega created a believable 19th century milieu, while Stage Manager Megan O’Keeffe and Production Manager Jonah Camiel helped Weingartner to produce this uproariously funny entertainment.
The provenance of the play, both long and twisting, is itself almost comical. Stoppard adapted On the Razzle from Johann Nestroy’s farce, Einen Juz will er sich Machen (“He’s Out for a Fling”) written in 1842. Einen Juz was also the basis for three plays written by Thornton Wilder, including The Merchant of Yonkers (1938), The Matchmaker (1955), and Hello Dolly! (1964). Nestroy’s Einen Juz was itself based on a one-act play, written by John Oxenford in 1835, entitled “A Day Well Spent.”

WHSTE’s performance extends the saga of the story behind On the Razzle with a cast of 21st century actors, providing them with the opportunity to explore and research the 20th century influence on the drafting of the play, as well as the 19th century setting in which it takes place. The results of this research prove to expand the appeal of the performance.

Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and may be purchased at the door. Advance sales tickets are available online (for a small additional processing fee) at www.WHSTE.com. Although the Main Stage has seating for many, the universal appeal of this production is likely to draw a large and diverse audience. Make your plans now to bring your entire family to this exciting show!