The QCC has done it yet again! From March 8-10, the Queen’s Court Company performed their very own adaptation of “Firebringer,” a comedic musical following the story of a stone-age tribe that discovers fire, a finding that “for better or for worse, changed the world.”
The story begins by introducing Jemilla, the tribe peacemaker, played by Emily Rae Johns ‘25. Jemilla is a strong leader that guides her tribe through everyday life in prehistoric times: assigning jobs, providing instruction, and ultimately keeping her tribe on its feet. Johns brought her character to life with beautifully delivered lines and songs.
“When asked to describe the rehearsal process for Firebringer, I always say ‘fun.’ It’s rare that the actors get to have as much fun performing as the audience does watching them, so you know a show is special when it happens. Mrs. Phillips gave us the freedom to improvise, laugh and truly make the story our own. I will forever be grateful for the meaning that a silly little show gave us,” Johns said.
As the storyline progresses, the tribe becomes gradually more frustrated with Jemilla and her methods of leadership. While on her journey to kill a ferocious monster named Snarl, with her newfound invention of the spear, tribe mischief-maker Zazzalil discovers fire. Zazzalil, played by Greta Senft ‘24, returns to her tribe with a sense of pride as the “firebringer” herself. Her discovery then leads to the overthrowing and replacement of Jemilla. With Zazzalil as the new leader, the tribe’s dynamic and work ethic changes very quickly. The quick access of fire causes the tribe to take their new privilege for granted, and easily forget about the hardships of survival that they experienced for years. The show ends with Jemilla and Zazzalil coming to a resolution to share their skills and talents, while working together as a team alongside the rest of their tribe.
When asked about the challenges of putting on the production and the reward that followed, Senft replied, “Firebringer was a unique challenge for us as a cast because it was a comedy, and it can be tough to convey humor as well as vocal complexity at the same time. As a cast, we all put a lot of work into our improv timing, in an attempt to amplify the fun parts in the script. It was really rewarding for me to see members of the cast lean into the story and build off each other on stage,” Senft said. Throughout the show, Senft provided the audience with an abundance of laughs and impressed many with both her singing and dancing skills.
Both the cast and study body were impressed with the work that went into this production. Meredith Harmon ‘25 applauded the Queen’s Court Company for their continued talents and success. “I loved Firebringer! I really saw my classmates on stage as their characters rather than members of the Trinity Hall community. The set and the costumes really brought the production to life and I truly felt like I was getting a glimpse into the stone age. Bravo QCC!” Harmon said.
Production Director and Head of the Arts Department Mrs. Ellen Phillips is inarguably the most impressed with the work of the QCC. “I was super excited to share this fun play with our community. We all worked really hard, which is ironic seeing as though part of the plot revolved around people being lazy! We had snow days, scheduling conflicts, and the flu to get through, but we made it work. I am most proud of the perseverance displayed by Grace Sullivan, Ruby Salcedo, Kelly Kostulias and Katherine Calamusa in trying to make the fire work. I was so happy that their work paid off. I thought it was incredible. The most important part was everyone had lots of fun and we all had lots of laughs!” Phillips said.
A show as elaborate as Firebringer deserves immense recognition. The production represented community through humor and song, and did not fail to leave a lasting impression on its audience. There was visible chemistry between cast members, constant laughter, and vibrant music and dance. The handmade costumes complimented the detailed set perfectly and displayed the hardwork and dedication that the QCC puts into each of their performances. “Firebringer” was an excellent capstone to yet another successful year for the Queen’s Court Company!