FORGOTTEN: McNally High School

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Forgotten: Where Less Becomes More

By Arjun Varma Balaraju

Aurora Charter School

There is a quiet confidence in a production that trusts its story over its spectacle. McNally High School's

Forgotten, written by Altaire Gural and directed by Kendra Lamothe-Chang, is exactly that kind of show.

Working with minimal resources and a deceptively simple premise, the cast built something genuinely affecting, funny, and at times, surprisingly tender.

The story follows Gwendolyn Deering, a girl plagued by vivid dreams of Neverland, caught between a crumbling real world and a fantasy that refuses to let her go. What makes Gural's script smart is how it layers comedy into nearly every scene without sacrificing the emotional weight beneath it. From Gwen's opening struggle to sleep, to the pillow fight that somehow transitions into a conversation about Neverland, the tone stays playful while the stakes quietly build.

Comedy is not reserved for any one character here. It is a full ensemble effort. Peter Pan brings a particular brand of oblivious charm that makes his scenes land with effortless comedy and wit, while the pirate ensemble operates like a rotating cast of comedic duos. The pairing of Hook and Mr. Smee, played by Alexis Roode, was a consistent highlight, with jokes that sucked your breath out of you, their dynamic carrying the kind of straight man and chaos energy that never got old. Even in scenes that exist purely to move the plot forward, someone finds the joke.

The production's strongest individual performer was Dane Yasul-Perry as Hook, who also doubled as Dr. Holder. Where the dual role could have felt disjointed, Yasul-Perry played it with sharp comic awareness and consistent control, making the irony of Hook masquerading as Gwen's therapist land with real wit. Every scene he was in had an edge.

The motif of "don't let me go," spoken by Gwen to Peter Pan, was the emotional spine of the show. It returned at key moments throughout, accumulating meaning each time, and by the final act, it carried genuine weight. The lighting during the hypnosis sequence, how it shifted as Gwen reached that line, was one of the few technical moments that felt deliberately crafted rather than functional. It worked.

Forgotten is not a loud show. It earns its moments quietly, through a well-structured script, a standout villainous performance, an ensemble that trusted the comedy in every scene, and a recurring four-word line that by the end, you feel rather than just hear. For anyone who has ever held onto something they knew they were losing, this one will stay with you.

What Stays, What Shifts

By Hunter Lafleur

M.E LaZerte High School

A tale of two realities, the past and the present. Woven together through memory and imagination.

McNally's Forgotten, written by Altaire Gural and intricately directed by Kendra Lamothe-Chang, is a

production that subverts familiar notions of Neverland, by grounding it in emotional realism. From the outset the production establishes a clear emotional trajectory that resonated until the very end. With a highly disciplined ensemble performance and fluid blocking, the students of McNally have ensured the survival of not only Neverland, but the memories that lingered within the audience beyond the final bow.

The most striking element of Forgotten was the deliberately complex staging that never failed to captivate. Throughout the show McNally fully utilizes La Cité’s unique layout, having characters appear through the aisles and balconies, which consistently kept the stage dynamic and spatially varied. These directorial choices deepened audience immersion whilst reinforcing the play's layered narrative. Another standout component was the incorporation of a scrim, which was used to great effect to visually create a boundary between past and present, coalescing into one stage picture, and allowing

memories to occasionally seep into reality.

One marvelous performance I have to spotlight is Caroline Leach’s portrayal of Young Wendy Deering, who navigates the character’s wide emotional spectrum with ease. Every physical choice, facial expression, and vocal shift showcase clear emotional pivots between childlike innocence and emotional maturity, allowing Wendy's inner conflict to resonate with the audience over time. Alongside Charly McIntyre's portrayal of Gwendolyn Deering, Caroline's performance is further strengthened by the subtle parallels in physicality and vocal delivery; these techniques were evident in a moment where both actors synchronized their breathing and movement, creating a hypnotic sense of continuity. All while maintaining distinct characterizations that reflect the different stages of the same life.

The technical design and execution of Forgotten was a masterclass in student-led creativity and collaboration. The set team effectively used scaffolding to create balanced stage pictures that grounded the transition between Neverland and reality, specifically in moments where additional vines and greenery were added to transform the otherwise skeletal structure of the scaffolding. Costume design led by Ezra Fuellbrandt made great use of warm and cool tones to visually distinguish characters' emotional relationships with each other. Lighting design by Ryder Popowich served to conduct the audience's gaze through dreamy lighting sequences that blurred the boundary between memory and

reality, enhancing the immersion of the production.

Taken together, Forgotten succeeds not only as a reimagining of a familiar tale, but a nod to high school theatre. The company of Forgotten created a show that was both technically complex and emotionally resonant. Through its advanced staging, thoughtful design, and committed performances. This production lingers long after its final moments. In the end, Forgotten is less concerned with what fades then with what insists on staying.

Forgotten: A Production Audiences Won’t Forget Anytime Soon

By Sophia Salamon

Strathcona High School

Have you ever wondered what Wendy got up to after leaving Neverland? Plunge into a dazzling fantasy landscape with McNally High School’s production of Forgotten, a play that cleverly merges reality and imagination. McNally’s thought-provoking performance used dedicated acting and awe-inspiring technical elements to fully immerse its audience in a world that is entirely different from our own.

The play Forgotten, written in 2015 by Canadian playwright Altaire Gural, follows Gwendolyn Deering, a young woman haunted by puzzling nightmares that sweep her away to an imaginary place and time. At the same time, we are shown snippets of Wendy Darling and her adventures with Peter Pan in J.M. Barrie’s Neverland. The eventual intersection of these two storylines reveal powerful truths about grief, connection, and the power of memory.

Staging this two-act play took an immense amount of focus and dedication, and it was clear how much each actor prepared for this endeavour. Charly McIntyre, playing the resolute protagonist Gwendolyn, commanded the stage with incredible presence and power. Her capable emotional depth and obvious understanding of her character’s complicated arc was truly a joy to witness. Often seen dazedly skipping after McIntyre was Quinn Ethier-Sheppard as Tabitha Knell, a character meant to represent Tinkerbell in Gwendolyn’s storyline. Ethier-Sheppard’s attention to detail in her character was astonishing, as she expertly embodied the flighty mannerisms of the original animated Tinkerbell. Dane

Yasul-Perry played the devious Captain Hook to absolute perfection, which is an especially impressive feat considering that he had only stepped into the role a month before the performance due to unexpected circumstances. Every single line that Yasul-Perry delivered dripped with evil intent, and he managed to balance grounded rage and spite with perfectly timed comedic relief. The entire large ensemble consistently supported the story - although transitions between scenes sometimes felt too long, actors always managed to stay in character while moving large set pieces.

Speaking of set pieces, it would be impossible to write a review of Forgotten without giving due attention to its stunning technical elements. The lighting design, done by Ryder Popowich, was especially a highlight. The production featured a scrim, or a translucent fabric screen, that colourful light was often projected through to create ethereal blurred images resembling fragmented, or “forgotten” dreams. Additionally, every audience member was drawn to a certain compelling spinning globe prop,

which was created by Penelope van Dyk-Normey and Elina Childs and used onstage in tandem with lighting to evoke a chilling mood in a pivotal scene.

One of the most powerful and captivating moments of the show was when Taela Atatahak

Chrisp, playing Tiger Lily, performed a beautifully authentic contemporary fancy shawl dance. Their talent and ability was evident as they glided around the stage, further drawing the audience into the alluring magic of the production. Many such moments of enchantment existed within Forgotten, making it a memorable and breathtaking production.

The World Where Dreams and Reality Collide

By Katelynn Engel

Morinville Community High School

During McNally High School’s production of Altaire Gural’s Forgotten, every moment feels like a clue.

The stage goes dark, and the mysteries begin.

As soon as the stage was lit, the audience was captivated and began making connections. The stage was

transformed into a barrier between reality and dreams. The mystery and magic of this production left the audience in a state of awe and wonder.

Forgotten follows the story of a teenage girl named Gwendolyn, who has forgotten her childhood. She wakes at night from dreams that seem to hold more significance than they first appear. Throughout the progression of the play, Gwendolyn begins to remember her past. The stories she once thought were fairy tales reveal themselves to be the memories of her life.

Something that immediately caught my attention was the way scenes and sets changed. Due to unfamiliarity and limited rehearsal time within the space, the cast and crew faced their share of challenges. Although some set changes took longer, I never felt that my immersion was broken. The tech team's use of music, combined with acting during transitions, kept me fully engaged in the experience.

One specific moment that stood out to me was when Taela Atatahak Chrisp entered the stage as Tiger Lily in Indigenous regalia. Chrisp then performed a contemporary fancy shawl dance, also known as the “Butterfly Dance.” This was a beautiful and unexpected moment that made me feel warm inside. Although I am not Indigenous myself, I appreciate when people are able to express and share their culture and traditions, especially through the arts. This moment was a meaningful and powerful addition to the production.

Charly McIntyre’s portrayal of Gwendolyn Deering was one I will not soon forget. McIntyre's commitment and professionalism were outstanding. Her effort shone through in her performance and showed the audience how much she relished the role. Her acting paired well with Leith Porter’s portrayal of O’Conner, and the two actors shared a believable and engaging dynamic on stage. Considering this was only Porter’s second production, his performance deserves praise.

During one moment, McIntyre lost one of her shoes on stage, yet neither she nor Porter faltered. Porter swiftly hid the shoe, allowing McIntyre to retrieve it in the next scene without drawing attention. Many AYTC reviewers, including myself, were amazed that the mishap was handled so seamlessly. This small incident highlights how unpredictable live theatre can be and why it is often more challenging than television and film. Every actor demonstrated dedication and helped create a production that felt both entertaining and professional.

All in all, this was a wonderful experience and one I will never forget.

McNally’s Forgotten Review

By Belle Newall

Strathcona High School

Forgotten, written by Altaire Gural, is an adaptation of the classic Peter Pan story, set after the

event of the original, where Gwendolyn (Wendy) has forgotten everything to do with Peter Pan, and

with Neverland. The story follows both the past and present stories of the characters, as Gwendolyn

tries to remember what happened in those days in Neverland.

There were so many great performances from everyone onstage. Charly McIntyre as Gwendolyn played as an excellent leading lady, with Caroline Leach playing the younger version. Both of them had such unique takes on each character, while still managing to connect them beautifully, and make you really believe they are the same person at different times. Dane Yasul-Perry, being thrust into the role of Captain Hook only a month prior to the show, also had great character, almost every line he said made the audience full of laughter with his excellent comedic timing. One of my personal favourite moments

of the show was when Tiger Lily, played by Taela Atatahak Chrisp performed a contemporary fancy shawl dance in one scene. It was such a beautiful moment to add to the show, and such a well-executed and fun to watch performance.

Lighting for the show was also great, designed by the lighting team of Ryder Popowich, Jackson Stokke, and Caleb Drake. They created wonderfully immersive lights for each and every location the stage adapted, whether alleyway or Neverland. My only wish for the show is that the transitions between scenes were slightly shorter, as there was quite a bit of the show taken up by the audience sitting silently, to the tune of “Drunken Sailor” while the set and props were moved around for the next scene. Those moments though, were good for a bit, as it gave the audience space to applaud in between scenes, which was very fun. One of the coolest pieces of the show was the scrim, a translucent screen at the back of the stage which when backlit reveals a secondary stage behind to present the characters’ memories in a dream-like haze. It was mesmerizing to see how the scrim contributed to the onstage

storytelling, when needed as a memory-hiding fog, it became that, and likewise for whenever it was needed as a screen for projections, creating beautiful backdrops.

Congratulations to McNally’s actors and technicians on such a great show. I promise it will not be forgotten by this reviewer!