Wrecked
at Sir Winston Churchill

Reviewed on February 26, 2020

Braulio Ojeda Valencia
AN Myer
Submitted for publication to St. Catharines Standard

"...a candid look at a universally recognized personal issue"

If a teenager went to a party and was given an alcoholic beverage mixed with addiction, adolescence, and family, they would have Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School's gripping production of Wrecked by Chris Craddock.

This narrative cocktail centers around a teenage boy named Lyle, and the mental and physical struggles he faces to protect his younger sister's innocence from the sobering reality of their alcohol-addicted mother. The story is intertwined with scenes that detail the consequences of drinking alcohol as a teen, and as a whole it leads to a play with relevant subject matter and heavy thematic ideas.

These ideas were brilliantly articulated by Cody McNeil's portrayal of Lyle, as it was his powerful stage presence which set the tone of many scenes and maintained the attention of audience members time and time again. His dry demeanour was an excellent counter to Scarlett McAlpine's performance as Lyle's younger sister, Susy. McAlpine masterfully brought a child-like spontaneity to her role, which not only elevated her character, but also added texture to the family dynamic of a naïve girl, her resentful brother, and, most significantly, their troubled mother.

The role of an alcoholic is very difficult to interpret without having personal experience with such addiction, but Elsa McKnight defied the odds and did a splendid job as Sharon. The level of emotion McKnight showed onstage left people's hearts in their throats, and created very believable, tense scenes when her character clashed with McNeil's. With so much tension, it was almost euphoric to have Ash Smith's character of Buddy break it with his lighthearted remarks and amiable presence. The way in which he naturally imbued lines with a hilarious delivery is enough to give someone the desire to see this play again.

In effect, the actors did a stellar job in maintaining a fluid and cohesive pace throughout the entirety of the play, but they were not the only contributing factor. The transitions between the main storyline and the teenage drinking scenarios were always fluent and nearly perfect, and this was in part due to the diligent stage crew (aptly called the Wreckers) and the clever set design. Thanks to its simplicity, the set was remarkably flexible and practical, which in the end made for some effective transitions that seldom removed audience members from their immersion to the performance.

Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School's rendition of Wrecked is not only a display of the school's theatrical talents, but also a candid look at a universally recognized personal issue familiar to many audience members. Their show leaves people with the realization that when you mix alcohol with addiction, adolescence, and family, then the story that forms is a concoction that's harder to swallow than even the strongest spirit.

Keerthana Srikanth
Beamsville District Secondary School
Submitted for publication to St. Catharines Standard

"I was so drunk… pissed… wrecked."

During Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School's performance of "Wrecked", these words were repeated countless times by numerous teenagers throughout the play as they attempted to combat lives of stress and struggle with a little fun. But how much fun is too much?

"Wrecked", written by Chris Craddock in 2000, is a timeless play that focuses on the lives of teenage Lyle and his younger sister, Susy, as their mother, Sharon, fights a battle against alcoholism. The heart-wrenching scenes of the family, are dispersed among scenes of various teenagers' experiences with alcohol, whether at parties or while driving. The production highlights its difficult topic of alcohol and drug abuse with the perfect balance of thoughtfulness, humour, and emotion, effectively delivering its important message to all audiences.

Sir Winston Churchill's adaptation of this challenging show hit its stride well, tackling the dark nuances, and delivering juxtaposed witty humour in support of a lighter tone. The cast as a whole complemented each other well, allowing for the relationships between characters to shine through.

Perhaps one of the great obstacles of the show was for the students to convey various messages about consequences of underage drug use, including car accidents and unwanted pregnancies. The teen ensemble did this with ease while also playing multiple roles, sometimes within the same scene--from a teenager being arrested to the police officer arresting them, or from a wannabe-newscaster at a party to a member of the basketball team taking part in a fight.

At the core of the show was the story of Lyle, attempting to support his younger sister through his mother's ongoing addiction. The role, taken on by Cody McNeil, was delivered with care and commitment to his character's journey of living in a damaged home to trying to create a safer one, while also trying to make sense of his mother's attempts at recovery.

A performance that elevated the production to new heights was that of Scarlett McAlpine as Susy, where she perfectly captured the character's curiosity, kindness, and determination to never give up hope. Furthermore, Ash Smith's rendering of Buddy, Lyle's best friend, never failed to draw a laugh, but also provided insight to the effects of seemingly harmless drugs.

The show was supported by lighting that fit the mood of every scene and even complemented the sound effects, such as that of a siren. Through the use of simplistic sets and props like Susy's bed, dining tables, and door frames, the actors created striking silhouettes on the stage against the lighting. Although it was slightly choppy, the use of music and sound effects supported various sections of the show, especially the party scenes.

Despite some feeling of disconnection between actors and their characters at times, the cast of "Wrecked" did well to deliver the content of the show and leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Sir Winston Churchill's performance of "Wrecked" guided the audience through the emotional array of the play with clarity, leaving an impactful message and the feelings of anger, sadness, and happiness lingering in the minds of viewers.

Diana Karapetyan
Eden High School
Submitted for publication to St. Catharines Standard

Bubble, Bubble, Toil, and Trouble at Sir Winston

Once upon a time, there were two children who lived with their mother in a quaint, little house. After her husband's departure, the mother searched far and wide for a magic antidote to cure a broken heart. Then, one day, she began to drink a potion only to discover that it was actually poison.

Life is certainly no fairytale in Sir Winston's production of Wrecked as the two children, Susy and Lyle live in fear of the wrath of their alcoholic mother. Not a moment passes without action as tear-jerking scenes from the household are blended with glimpses from a high school party that further showcase the horrific effect alcohol has had on adolescent lives.

Enhancing the play with an upbeat tempo, sound designer, Misbah Memon did not falter in her execution of the sound cues that kept the show moving at a steady pace. Scenes flowed effortlessly into one another with the additional help of tech and lighting director, Kelly Samayoa, who provided depth to the story with lively party lights and appropriately chosen shades that illuminated the mood onstage.

Scarlett McAlpine, playing Susy, is a beam of light herself, providing innocence to the dark subject matter with her adorable onstage presence and light-hearted jokes. Susy's youthfulness is perfectly balanced by her mature brother, Lyle (Cody McNeil), who takes on the burdensome responsibility of paying the bills and keeping his sister safe at the young age of sixteen.

Shattering the loving family dynamic between the two children is Elsa McKnight portraying the mother, Sharon, whose performance is nothing short of stellar. An alcoholic is no simple role to portray, and McKnight is worthy of praise for her ability to capture both the mental and physical journey that such a complex character must battle.

However, the show is kept lively with smooth transitions into a party where a brilliant ensemble of teens (Ella Andrew, Nick Chaffee, Erin Collins, Madeline Corbier, Georgia Hannahson, Amy Malton, Tyler Minaker, Savannah Steeves, and Hannah White) collaborate as one to deliver a range of intriguing storylines. Each actor was able to morph easily from persona to persona, narrating a series of unfortunate events with just the right touch of humor.

In much the same manner that potion can masquerade as poison, the message behind Wrecked runs far deeper than its comedic façade. Nor is it the cautionary tale against alcohol that it may be perceived to be. At its core, Wrecked is a story of recovery and the fact that sometimes, the only magic potion required is the care and support of loved ones around.