As the Westminster Players prepared to bring Almost, Maine to life on stage, the looming threat of Hurricane Helene cast a shadow over their long-awaited performances. Originally scheduled for Sept. 26-28, the play was rescheduled to Sept. 28 at Pace Academy and Sept. 30 at Westminster.
Written by John Cariani, the play is known for its nine two-character vignettes. Despite the short turnaround time for preparation, the smaller cast was eager to showcase their hard work.
As the hurricane approached landfall on Sept. 26 and 27, the cast grew increasingly anxious about the negative impacts of the turbulent weather on the Almost, Maine schedule and operations. The first sign of disruption came on Wednesday afternoon during rehearsal, when the cast learned that school would be canceled on Friday, effectively canceling the show that evening.
“We knew that there would be no Friday show, but we still didn’t have any news on Thursday, which was supposed to be our open dress,” said senior Ashley Miller.
It wasn’t until noon on Thursday, as torrential rain lashed the Westminster campus and surrounding areas, that the school sent out another update. With conditions worsening, the school announced the cancellation of Thursday’s activities, including the play. The mounting changes tested the cast’s resilience as they dealt with an altered schedule.
Sophomore Aleena Shash shared her surprise at the cancellations. “I didn’t expect we’d have to cancel two of our shows,” she said.
To cope with the changing schedule, members of the cast supported each other.
“Some people are really disappointed, some people are fine with it, and so I think we should allow space to be sad, but also supportive…. It’s okay to be sad, allowing all sides of emotions,” said senior Callum Cooper.
Due to the severe flooding at Westminster, the play was moved to Pace Academy for the Saturday show. In a space similar to Blake Hall, the actors adapted to limited space, props, and costumes. While some expressed disappointment at the scaled-back play, others were grateful for the opportunity to perform in front of their families and friends.
“Although it was a good chance for us to practice, it didn’t do the play justice,” said junior Kirsten Liang.
Despite this, others remained grateful for the opportunity. “We were happy we were able to perform at least once,” added Miller.
Flexibility to move on, given the circumstance, was key to executing the play. “We had to adapt to the scenario we were placed in,” said sophomore Brij Vyas.
During the unexpected break, cast members tried to keep busy with homework, but many felt stressed due to all the changes. Saturday’s show became both a performance and the cast’s first full rehearsal since Wednesday. This added to the pressure, especially for new actors who had never done the play before, but some used the extra time to perfect their lines and make the most of the break.
On Monday, the Players finally returned to the Westminster stage in Kellett Theater. The audience included members of the school’s Titanic musical cast, as well as friends and family. The cast delivered a stellar performance, cheering each other on after overcoming the disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene.
“A surprising number of people came on Monday. I saw a fair number of teachers there, which was really nice to see,” said Capoor.
Similar sentiments were echoed by other cast members.
“Turnout was pretty good for a small show, especially one scheduled last minute,” said Miller.
“We were all grateful to be part of that community,” said Shash. “It was really sentimental because it was one of the best plays and casts I’ve acted with.”
The impact of Hurricane Helene brought the Westminster Players closer together; as a group, they endured unpredictable schedule changes, canceled shows, and last-minute performances. Ultimately, the cast of Almost, Maine put on a spectacular play, demonstrating their resilience and adaptability through an unprecedented time.
Edited by Lauren Foglesong
