The BHS drama club performed the fall musical Freaky Friday, Nov. 14-16. The musical follows a mother and daughter who swap bodies for a day and have to work together to make things right.
The plot of Freaky Friday was easy to follow, which allowed the humor and emotional moments to shine. Teenager Ellie Blake (freshman Bianca Nicolaewsky Kayat Bittencourt) is excited for a school scavenger hunt, but is stuck at her mother’s rehearsal dinner for an upcoming wedding. She views her mother, Katherine (senior Vega Craig), as perfect, while Katherine sees Ellie as immature and irresponsible.
When an argument leads to a magical hourglass accidentally breaking, the two switch bodies and have to navigate each other’s lives. Ellie has to plan Katherine’s wedding and deal with adult responsibilities, while Katherine has to attend school and navigate teenage social dynamics.
The story constantly bounces back and forth from comedy to more heartfelt moments about understanding each other, with standout acting moments like Katherine dissecting a frog during biology class or Ellie knocking over the wedding cake.
The lead actors, Vega Craig and Bianca Nicolaewsky Kayat Bittencourt, did a great job playing Katherine and Ellie Blake, respectively. What was most impressive was the seamless transition between characters that they both had to accomplish.
Another performance that stood out was Eli Ward as Adam, a popular student and creator of the school scavenger hunt. Ward has had multiple major roles in previous Beachwood musicals, and his experience showed. All the supporting actors did a phenomenal job as well, with some having to play multiple roles.
The tech crew did an excellent job with sets and transitions, which were well-designed and executed to help keep the audience engaged.
The classroom set was especially well done, with a very detailed hand-drawn whiteboard drawing that added a lot of character to the set.
The scene changes were quick and synchronized with the music, which helped maintain momentum throughout the performance. There were very few minor technical or set hiccups, and they were handled quickly, showing the professionalism of the crew.
The music of Freaky Friday was exceptional, featuring fantastic singing from many of the lead actors and great choreography during the musical numbers.
“Women and Sandwiches” stood out, a duet by Eli Ward as Adam and Aya Balkan as Fletcher. The duet showcased both their singing abilities and their humor as the song drew many laughs from the audience.
“Busted” was also impressive, as it showcased the talents of a large portion of the cast with its choreography. The voices of Craig and Nicolaewsky Kayat Bittencourt shined in this performance and many others in the musical.
Overall, the drama club’s production of Freaky Friday was a great show that combined strong acting and singing as well as clever staging.
The clear plot, comedy, and convincing performances made it a joy to watch, and the technical execution and choreography elevated the overall experience even further.
This musical showcased the talent and hard work that the cast and crew put into it, which resulted in a production that entertained the audience for its entire runtime.
