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QUILLS & QUEUES Quills & Queues: Teen theater plays dark genre for laughs Comment By Angela Decker For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker For the Tidings Posted Jul. 30, 2015 at 7:15 PM Updated Jul 30, 2015 at 7:16 PM By Angela Decker For the Tidings Posted Jul. 30, 2015 at 7:15 PM Updated Jul 30, 2015 at 7:16 PM » Social News Slick private eyes, smart dames and cool hats are hallmarks of film noir — and inspiration for the Ashland Children’s Theatre’s teen mystery theater camp’s production of “Birds of a Feather,” a comedy in the film-noir style to be performed on Aug. 8 and 9 at the Ashland Community Center. “Birds of a Feather” is written and directed by Eve Smyth and produced by Kate Sullivan. The two are co-directors of Ashland Children’s Theatre, which has been offering theater and performance camps and classes to kids and teens for over a decade. The play is set in 1944 Hollywood at a popular nightclub called “The Birdcage.” When a corpse turns up during a performance, private detectives Gail Bennett and Rita Miller are on the case to discover if the death was really the accident claimed, or foul play. “The story is so good,” said teen actor Pearl Davis. The young actors say the noir theme has been especially fun for them. “I’ve always liked mysteries and this genre is really fun. We come away with a better sense of the time period, but also a sense of how theater has changed over the years,” said Alex Webb, a high school sophomore who is in his fourth year with the teen mystery theater camp. “I love going back in time and playing someone else. I feel closer to the 1940’s era now,” Davis said. Fellow actor Aidan Zyth agrees. “A little bit of this world stays with you. I love the style, the way people talked and moved,” she said. This year’s class has 13 students. Nearly half are veterans of previous classes, and Smyth wrote the play with each of the students in mind. “We’re lucky having the playwright right here, directing us, too,” said Webb. “A genre like noir gives you a lot of conventions to hang your story onto,” said Smyth. “A lot of these kids weren’t familiar with the noir films of the 1940’s and 1950’s, so I told them their homework was to watch films such as “The Maltese Falcon,” “To Have and to Have Not,” and “Double Indemnity,” she said. “The kids like the edgy quality and the mysterious characters,” she added. Henry Alexander, a second-year camper, says he enjoys the variety in the plays Smyth writes for them. “If you do this camp, you get a chance to do a little bit of everything. I’d recommend this to anyone who likes theater or who wants to be with a great group of people,” he said. Cora Stonewood, also a returning actor, says the production takes a lot of commitment. “You’re definitely doing work at home, studying lines, working with your scene partner, but I’d tell anyone to give it a try. Even if you’re nervous before the show starts, you’ll feel great as soon as you walk on stage.” Smyth says there were some practicalities the kids had to work on. “We had to show the boys how to hang up a pair of slacks. You never see Humphrey Bogart cramming his pants in the closet and waiting for his mom to straighten them out,” she said. The campers have only two weeks to learn lines, rehearse the script and produce a polished play. “It is totally intensive, but Eve and Kate take really good care of us. They’re so good, it just goes smoothly,” said Zyth. “We get a great experience and the audience gets a great show.” “Birds of a Feather” starts at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, and at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at the Ashland Community Center, 59 Winburn Way. Advance tickets are available at Music Coop and Tree House Books in Ashland ($5 for students, $10 for adults), or at the door ($6/$12). For more information, visit www.AshlandChildrensTheatre.com or call 541-414-8676. Angela Decker is a freelance writer in Ashland and can be reached at [email protected]. By Angela Decker For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By Angela Decker For the Tidings Posted Jul. 30, 2015 at 7:15 PM Updated Jul 30, 2015 at 7:16 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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