Albert Lea students show tragedy on the stage in one-act play

The Albert Lea High School stage has seen many scenes in the past year, but up next is the seriousness of World War II.

Albert Lea High School’s one-act play will perform “The Murder of Lidice” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the high school auditorium as an open dress rehearsal for its competition on Friday.

“The Murder of Lidice” is based on a true story and is set in the Czechoslovakian village of Lidice, where it was believed that a man who assassinated one of Hitler’s officials is hiding.

The townspeople are innocent but Hitler wanted to make an example of the town, so he ordered all the men to be killed on June 10, 1942. Many of the women were killed as well, and any survivors were sent to concentration camps.

After the people were killed or sent away, Lidice was burned to the ground. Director Lilah Aas said the only thing remaining at the town’s original site is a memorial.

Aas, who has been directing the one-act play for 11 years since she retired, said she saw this play years ago and was interested in having the one-act play students do it this year. She said she tries to do something a little different each year, whether it be comedies, tragedies and everything in between.

However, Aas said she usually picks serious plays as she likes to have the students perform something “with meat on it,” she said.

The students started practicing at the beginning of the month after returning from winter break. However, bad weather canceled some of the practices and students have been out sick.

Despite having less practice than normal and being saddled with a heavy play, most of the students said they enjoyed the play itself.

However, Isabel Ehrhardt, who plays both a narrator and Beyata, said the play is “draining” and she is exhausted after practice.

The play is still somewhat challenging to the students, especially because of the fact that it is all in verse.

Hanna Kingstrom, who plays a narrator, said it’s hard trying not to rhyme the lines intentionally. Bailey Ford, who plays a narrator, said it’s difficult to not pause after lines due to the poetry-like way the play is written.

Students in the one-act play will perform “The Murder of Lidice” at Prior Lake High School at 4:20 p.m. on Friday for competition. Aas said the public is welcome to attend the play, and there is no charge.

Albert Lea will compete against Winona, Rochester John Marshall, Rochester Mayo, Kasson-Mantorville and Prior Lake high schools.

 

If you go

What: “The Murder of Lidice” one-act play open dress rehearsal

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

Where: Albert Lea High School auditorium

How much: Free

 

Cast and crew

Narrator: Quinn Andersen

Narrator, young mother: Rika Boorsma

Narrator, Beyata: Isabel Ehrhardt

Narrator, father, priest: Sam Ehrhardt

Narrator: Bailey Ford

Narrator: Hanna Kingstrom

Narrator, Jan, nazi: Jens Lange

Narrator, mother: Solveig Lange

Narrator, Karel: Logan Petersen

Student director: Greta Hagen

Director: Lilah Aahs

Set designer: John Fure