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Original play explores 1950s in Warrenton
Competition can be fierce among cast members in theater productions. For the members of the TORCH Drama Club at St. John's Catholic Church, director Chris Galvin offers something different.“I discourage competitiveness,” Galvin said. “I try to get them to work together and to teach each other.”
Galvin and Ruth Van Dyke founded the Christian-based club for homeschoolers in 2002 with an original group of 25 kids, ages 6-14. Today the club has over 100 participants divided into three age groups – The EMBERS (ages 7-9), the Sparks (ages 10-12) and TORCH (ages 13-19).
Each age group performs one play a year. TORCH is currently producing “The Merry Wives of Warrenton,” an adaptation of Shakespeare's “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”
“Shakespeare often pops up,” Galvin said. She added that the performers were responsible for re-writing the script to fit their adaptation.
The TORCH club changed the setting to the 1950s for their adaptation and made Frost Diner the centerpiece of the storyline.
As the club has grown in stature so has the scale of production. Today's shows are a far cry from TORCH's first production, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” the club's founders said.
“We used a flashlight as the spotlight and had a tape recorder for music,” Galvin said.
“The sets were made of refrigerator boxes,” Van Dyke said.
Though the group has increased both in size and production scale, it remains a tight-knit group.
“It becomes a family here,” Van Dyke said.
“Everyone gets really close,” said Ceci Galvin, daughter of Chris. She has been a member since the club was founded.
Chris Galvin said the TORCH age group is expected to teach and lead the younger age groups.
Galvin sends an e-mail notice every August to potential members announcing an open house. She conducts monthly workshops which incorporate learning dance and improvisation. The lessons on improvisation came in handy for Kyle Van Dyke during their production “King Arthur.”
“I was supposed to crown the king but didn't have the crown,” Van Dyke said. “I gave the king a blessing instead.”
Proceeds from TORCH ticket sales go to charity. Fauquier Habitat for Humanity is a frequent recipient of the group's donations.
During intermission, the cast performs a “show within the show” and baskets are distributed throughout the audience. All proceeds from this portion go directly to the club.
Galvin said she would like to have the group perform a musical in the future.
“The Merry Wives of Warrenton” will be performed in the auditorium at St. John's Catholic School at 7 p.m. Friday, June 19, at 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20, and at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 21.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Dads get in free at the Sunday matinee.
For more information, contact Galvin at (540) 937-3355, or email chris@galvinproductions.com.
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