Oakton High School’s drama department has put on shows before. “A-Tisket, A-Tasket, Four Dames, and a Casket,” was a whole new experience, however. The play still had all the usual trappings, but it was written entirely by Oakton senior Haley Herrinton.

Set in 1920s New York, “Tisket” is a farce and revolves around a group of con artists led by Tommy Steinham (played by Albert Anderson) out to sell a casket full of stolen jewels in the middle of a hotel lobby. The cons’ arrival coincides with the news that the hotel’s manager (Carlie Robbins) must marry or lose her hotel. When the two cross, chaos reigns.

Herrinton wrote the script from scratch to provide girls with more roles. “In drama, I was sick of people getting double casted, especially the girls, because all we could find were shows that were heavy on guys and low on girls. And so I said to myself, ‘We need a show that’s high on estrogen.’’’

Vanessa Gelinas, theater director, decided to take on the show after Herrinton approached her. “Haley came to us at the end of last school year and said she was writing a play, and she brought Act One. I said if you can finish it, we’ll do it.”

Having the playwright at their disposal was an interesting experience for the company. The role of Mrs. Carroll, a senile old woman, was originally written to be played by an actress, but after an entertaining audition, the role was given to Zak Goldberger, who played the part in drag.

“It was hard to take the role seriously sometimes,” Goldberger, a junior, laughed, “because it’s kind of funny being in drag and sometimes I’d even crack myself up because it was weird.”

The enormity of taking on an untested show provided a challenge. Herrinton described the difficulties of writing a script.

“Writing the script was actually a really fun, often stressful effort because as I was writing it I would get ahead of myself and I’d be like, ‘Oh my gosh. I have so much to write left.’ It was pretty ridiculous.”

Gelinas had worried about the time constraints of the production. However, all involved were happy with the outcome; Goldberger was ecstatic.

“It couldn’t have gone better in my opinion. Even the mistakes that were made ended up enhancing the show, and everyone did a fantastic job.”

Herrinton, too, was thrilled seeing her show come to life on the stage.

“I’ve never seen so many people come together for such a cause. Everyone did such a good job with it. It went above what I ever could have expected.”

Gelinas warns that surprises await the audience.

“I think the audience will be very surprised at the twists and turns the plot takes.”


By Chris Papas
Oakton Outlook