One-Act shows that it’s a ‘crazy world’

“It’s a crazy world,” states one of the young actors in New Prague High School’s one-act play “The Nose.” The play takes a very humorous turn to show how crazy the world can be. It is based on a satirical short story about civil servant Kovalyov, a Collegiate Assessor, who wakes up one morning without his nose. He later finds out that his nose has developed a life of its own, and has even surpassed Kovalyov in social rank. Steve Schroer adapted the play from the story by Russian novelist, Nikolai Gogol.

Area residents will get two chances to see the show this weekend. First is a free public performance at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, at the high school auditorium, 221 12th St. NE. The cast and crew will do two performances of the one-act on Friday, with the second show allowing the understudies to step forward. Students will then compete in the Sub-Section Performance as New Prague High School hosts the event on Saturday, Jan. 28. New Prague is scheduled to perform in the auditorium at 1:55 p.m. on Saturday.

On Thursday, Jan. 19, the cast and crew were working on the play in the auditorium. Costumes and staging were kept at a minimum with the group dressed mainly in black clothing. While Andrew Scheiber is to play the part of Kovalyov, understudy Angela Schoenbauer was stepping in for him that night. As Kovalyov, she pursues different ways to recover her nose. At one point Schoenbauer’s character believes she knows how her nose came to life and how to deal with the person responsible. Schoenbauer then states, “I’m going to write her a letter!” Director Ben Thietje muses that they need some type of vocal response from Falan Nuhring, who plays Nastiya Manilova, so people will realize it’s her character being referred to. A couple of ideas were discussed before one was decided on.

Brad Simon plays the part of the mobile facial feature in the play’s title. He said that when he read the play he found it very different. “I’m usually not a talking inanimate object,” he said with a grin. He noted when he saw his costume, “My first reaction is that this is going to be really hot.” He added that he’s excited to be the focal point of the play and keep audiences laughing.

Thietje explains the costume is being borrowed from Schroer. Audiences who have attended past one-acts will recognize his name as Schroer created the adaption “Around the World in Under 35 Minutes” and last year’s film noir based “City of Blood.” Thietje said like “Around the World in Under 35 Minutes,” this year’s oneact is an ensemble piece that requires everyone to work as a team.

There are 18 total New Prague students participating, 12 in the cast and six crew members. The cast includes Noah Hummel, Aimee Ilkka, Anna Lundeen, Ali-- Jae Nikolai, Falan Nuhring, Maggie O’Neill, Andrew Scheiber, Angela Schoenbauer, Annie Schoenbauer, Amber Simon, Brad Simon and Kate Wagner, with stage managers Janae Becher, Lucas Connolly, Amanda DeGross, Lauren Hargreaves, Maria Najera and Megan Vikla.

If New Prague places in the top three at the Sub-Section Performance this Saturday, the group advances to the Section Finals, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4, at Marshall High School. The school that places first there advances to the MSHSL State One Act Festival at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, which will be held Thursday, Feb. 9, and Friday, Feb. 10.

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