For the drama class, first semester was consumed with preparation of the Christmas arts production, Agnus Dei, hindering the opportunity from completing an independent play. However, when the second semester arrived, drama teacher Brianne Vogt selected a play for the class to perform, “The Babbling Brooks,” by Kurtz Gordon, on March 8 and 12.

The show is a three act comedy about a family of gossipers. One daughter, Betty Brooks (Nacoya Villegas, ’10), organizes a neighborhood newspaper with her best friends to tell all of the latest gossip. As the kids overhear conversations and turn them into the press, vast rumors are spread and relationships broken.

Similar to the drama department’s production of “Tartuffe”last year, a central theme of words creating conflict drives the story.

“The wordiness of ‘The Babbling Brooks’ hardly rivals that of ‘Tartuffe,'” Vogt said, “however, the conflict of the play, much like ‘Tartuffe,’ does revolve around words. The story focuses on the family of the town gossip and much of the confusion in the show comes from the fact that what is said and what actually happens are two different things.”

While the plays contain similar atmospheres, Vogt says the styles differ greatly.

“The writing style of ‘The Babbling Brooks’ is far more conversational than that of ‘Tartuffe,'” Vogt said. “No one actually talks in rhymed couplets as the characters of ‘Tartuffe’ did, but people really do gossip in their every day conversations. The conversational style is one appealing part of the play. The humor is also appealing and based on daily life, the attitudes and occurrences that add spice to life.”

In addition to these concepts, Vogt says extra plot development makes the play more interesting.

“There is also a bit of mystery involved in the play,” Vogt said. “There are a few plot devices that aren’t completely made clear to audience members before the closing scenes. The sense of suspense is a fun element.”

Senior Cathy Robbins appreciates the play’s accessibility as opposed to more forbidding productions.

“I like that it’s a more modern play and I don’t have to spend hours trying to analyze the page-long monologes,” Robbins said. “I also like that the show is hilarious! Audiences will love that it’s a comedy, and it’s easy to understand. This play will definitely be a great play to bring the whole family to.”

As the play is set to be performed in early March, the drama class must pull together an entire production in roughly six weeks. Some students feel the time frame will be easily sufficient. Freshman Tyler Hensley is confident in the class’s abilities.

“Although we give a small time frame, we have a committed class,” Hensley said. “We are very good at working through stress, and we can do it.”

For Vogt, responsibilities as a director come to a peak of stress through the process of organizing an entire show.

“I don’t think people realize all that goes into the production of a show,” Vogt said. “I know I didn’t fully realize it myself until last spring when I was asked to put one together. It’s not just picking a show, auditioning, and casting actors.

“It’s also blocking the show (who moves where on what lines, etc), sound effects, lighting, set building, costume design and construction — all on a budget and over the course of about five weeks.”

Despite the potential drawbacks, Vogt feels confident in her class to produce a successful play in a short amount of time.

“There are several students in the show that I worked with last year,” Vogt said. “I saw their talent and their commitment to hard work last year. In addition to the returning talent, there are fresh faces this year that have also shown me they are ready and willing to work hard to make Drama a success. And putting talent aside, I selected a play that I felt our class could produce successfully.”

Vogt says even the beginning processes of choosing a play can be difficult.

“A director cannot simply choose the first title that comes to mind or the play they have been dying to direct if they don’t have the people to play the roles,” Vogt said. “I think finding ‘The Babbling Brooks’ was a God thing, quite honestly, because it has exactly the number of roles I need, and they were roles that I knew my students could play successfully. I’m looking forward to a fun, funny, and fabulous show.”

“The Babbling Brooks” is set to be performed March 8 and 12. Ticket prices are not yet available. For more information about drama, read the Dec. 15 article, Agnus Dei features arts department collaboration or e-mail Vogt.