The De Soto High School Repertory Theater group is putting final touches on their first performance in nearly a year. On Friday, March 12, DHS’s theater, although only partially filled, will finally host a show. Director Sarah Cronkleton-Kidd was reasonably excited for the opportunity to act in front of a live audience. 

“I’m just excited to have a performance,” Cronkleton-Kidd said. “This year has been tough for all of us. Bringing something to the stage is the biggest accomplishment we’ve had.” 

Junior Alex Bonilla, one of the show’s actresses, also expressed her excitement.

“I’m really happy we get to perform,” Bonilla said. “Even though it’s not a musical, I’m still glad we get to perform something.” 

The performances were  accompanied by several obstacles created by COVID-19. Cronkleton-Kidd detailed the restrictive measures theater has had to put into place in order to rehearse and perform. 

“Audience capability and masks are the hardest parts because masks block the actors’ faces,” Cronkleton-Kidd said. “Quarantines have also affected us and one actor can’t perform due to COVID-19.” 

Bonilla echoed Cronkleton-Kidd’s description of the struggles theater has had due to COVID-19. 

“It’s hard because we can’t do a lot of things,” Bonilla said. “It’s difficult to do facial expressions with a mask on, and there was a dance in the play but we can’t do it because of guidelines.” 

Regardless, Cronkleton-Kidd has been proud of her students’ work ethic amidst COVID-19 restrictions. 

“It’s a more mature show, so they’ve shown a lot of personal growth,” Cronkleton-Kidd said. 

The show itself is known as the Spoon River Anthology, a play based off of poems by Edgar Lee Masters.

“The show is basically monologues from the residents of Spoon River, and they talk about their lives and regrets before they die,” Cronkleton-Kidd said.  

While the Spoon River Anthology is different from past performances of Mamma Mia and Footloose, the show’s participants remain grateful for the opportunity to do what they love. 

“My favorite part [about theater] is being able to be someone else and meet new people who are interested in the same stuff as you,” Bonilla said. 

Cronkleton-Kidd couldn’t agree more, as she expressed her gratitude for the group’s resilience and passion for theater.

“Despite that we’re in a pandemic, they still found time to work on something they love and enjoy.”