JCA's 'Uninvited' Opens To Applause

That Roderick Fitzgerald character, while serious, still has quite the sense of humor.

Senior Austin Kairis (Crest Hill) plays Fitzgerald, one of the lead characters in Joliet Catholic Academy's fall play, “The Uninvited.” Fitzgerald’s sister Pamela is played by fellow senior Morgan Schrage.

After last week’s opening performance at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre, Kairis was asked about how easy it can be to play the brother-sister combo with one of his best friends, Schrage.“No, not at all,” Kairis said in a distinct, actor-like deadpan.

Immediately, Kairis grinned. And it is that type of camaraderie that was apparent from the cast throughout the first-night staging as Kairis, Schrage and senior Kelsie Chasten (Channahon) shined.

“Working with Morgan is great,” Kairis said. “She’s the best person, and it’s very important that my character and Morgan’s character reel the audience in. There are a lot of indirect things happening that you have to draw conclusions about on your own, so it’s different than a typical comedy or musical.”

“It’s different because you have to command the audience’s attention,” Schrage agreed. “You’re not exactly sure how they are going to react, how they are going to take it. You’re being counted on to build the suspense and draw them in, and a play like this is more sophisticated production than a comedy."

Jennifer Szynal, JCA’s Thespian Troupe 1046 moderator, called the play “a supernatural thriller.” Roderick and Pamela Fitzgerald buy an abandoned seaside house from Commander Brooke, a role being handled by Naperville’s Sam Juveland. Chasten plays Stella Meredith, Commander Brooke’s granddaughter.“A little bit of both,” Chasten said of the jitters in her acting debut. “I’m a dancer, so I’m used to being on the stage, but when you get up there, it’s totally different. So I was nervous and excited. But we get along so well as a cast, we have so much fun together, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

Neither could the audience. Juveland delivered a commanding performance, Adele Dalton was terrific as the gossipy Mrs. Jessup and Kelsey Fenske startled the crowd with her scream as actress Wendy. Channahon’s Sam DeBenedetti, in a non-speaking role as ghost Mary Meredith, provided the chills.

Add to that Lauren Faber as frazzled maid Lizzie Flynn, Wilmington’s Nick Humbles as Dr. Scott and Ian Rambo as Max Hillard, as guided by student directors Lizzie Minarich and Lucas Tyler, and it was golden.

“Awesome,” Szynal said. “It’s a difficult play, because to a great degree, it depends on the lead characters to time the delivery of their lines during key moments, and there are elements of the plot where it’s incredibly crucial for the energy of the actors to convey that suspense to the audience.

“Austin, Morgan and Kelsie handle a big chunk of that, and they were very good. Our supporting characters all did a very nice job, and we were able to work through most of the technical glitches that we had experienced during our practice the night before. We’re excited for the next two performances.”

“We know it’s a different play to stage and it’s more difficult for the audience because of the suspense and how it involves so much emotion,” Chasten said. “You have to convince the audience what is happening and what you are feeling is real. It’s not a ‘ha-ha, funny play,’ but it is fun to watch.”

“Opening night is always an adrenaline rush for the cast, the crew and everyone involved,” said Schrage, who’s in her fourth major production at JCA. “The second night always is the best. The third night is the saddest, especially for the seniors, because it’s our last fall play. We want to make it our best.”