WCI RedPlayers presenting Catch Me If You Can onstage December 11 through 14

Director David DeJonge (left), Desi VanBeek-Paterson as Frank Abagnale (centre), and Kaiden Martin as Brenda the Nurse, invite fans of musical theatre and live performance to enjoy ‘Catch Me If You Can’ for 7 p.m. dates Wednesday, December 11th through Saturday, December 14th at WCI’s renovated auditorium. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at onstagedirect.com up to two hours before individual performances, or at the door via a cash-only transaction. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Desi VanBeek-Paterson may not be perfect. But he’s a pretty solid Grade 11 student who most of the time shows up for class, does his homework and pulls off an average of around 85 per cent.

Stepping outside that bubble of respectability may be a contributing factor to his enjoyment of playing con artist Frank Abagnale in the Woodstock Collegiate Institute’s RedPlayers’ upcoming family-friendly production of Catch Me If You Can, hitting the school’s newly renovated stage December 11th through 14th each evening at 7 p.m.

“It’s just fun all the way through,” said VanBeek-Paterson, adding, “I think it’s amazing to have the opportunity to live someone else’s life.”

Described as a ‘high-flying, fast-paced’ musical based on the movie of the same name, the action is inspired by Abagnale’s true-life experiences as a particularly resourceful con man, trying to stay one step ahead of FBI pursuit.

“He’s the protagonist and he breaks the law,” says VanBeek-Paterson of a fun story where the lead character is a bad guy, but with redeeming and charismatic qualities. The fact Abagnale began his career at the age of 16 only makes the role more relatable.

“You’re rooting for him, you want him to win.”

The story is told from Abagnale’s perspective VanBeek-Paterson continued, cautioning it’s not so much reality, as what Abagnale wanted to believe was reality.

“Or how he interprets it,” interjected director David DeJonge. “That’s a good way to put it.”

Kaiden Martin plays Abagnale’s love interest Brenda, an innocent nurse at a hospital where he is pretending to be a doctor.

“She’s not interested in him,” said Martin. “So that’s kind of the chase.”

In total, Catch Me If You Can features 57 WCI student cast members and roughly half that many again as production crew. Some roles are shared, with a changing actor roster depending on performance. The show represents the combination of extra-curricular activity and a credit course in musical theatre. WCI RedPlayer graduates have gone on from the program to exclusive post-secondary educational opportunities and also careers in the performing arts says DeJonge.

“We’ve got some people in Stratford, and some working in shows in Toronto.”

The curtain will rise this year not only on a high-energy musical but a completed $2.5-million renovation to WCI’s historical auditorium. After presenting last year at the church across the street, DeJonge is looking forward to returning home to a facility featuring upgrades to the stage and guest seating along with state-of-the-art sound and lighting. Tickets can be purchased online up to two hours prior to individual performances by scrolling down the onstagedirect.com website to find Catch Me If You Can or plugging in https://www.onstagedirect.com/buy/event_info.action?eventId=2256. They can also be purchased at the door in a cash-only transaction.

The $25 per ticket cost, along with fundraising efforts, supports the $68,000 budget for a show DeJonge firmly believes ranks amongst the best of its contemporaries, while also providing participants with an enjoyable and productive educational opportunity.

“It gives our students as professional an experience as you can get in high school.”

Live theatre can be inspirational says VanBeek-Paterson, encouraged to take the stage himself after seeing his sister perform.

“It can really start the passion in you.”

There is also an element of personal challenge and growth says Martin, admitting to occasional nervousness while waiting to enter from the wings. However, once she does, Martin doesn’t feel like she’s on a stage anymore, rather where her character is.

“I really like being able to get out of my comfort zone.”

The production team features three WCI staff members including DeJonge as director, musical director Adriano Burgo, choreographer Victoria Bannon of Artistic Movement, stage manager Hannah Young, set and costume designer Deb Erb, lighting design by Pete Dunbar, lighting technician Aryrson Maloney, and producer Scott Mackintosh.

Rehearsals have been ramping up as opening night approaches, along with performances for area elementary schools the preceding week.

“We just want people to laugh, cry and have a good time,” Martin concluded, extending a final invitation for musical theatre fans to come and catch the production if they can.