Hononegah's "Failure: A Love Story" explores the value of time

Curtains opened on the Performing Arts Center stage on Nov. 1 - 3, 2024 with Hononegah High School's production of “Failure, A Love Story.”

Inspiration for the play - and the title - came when Chicago playwright Phillip Dawkins visited a cemetery with multiple tombstones with the last name of 'Fail' on them. The audience soon learns that "by the end of 1928, all three Fail sisters will be dead – expiring in reverse order, youngest to oldest."

The talented cast and crew brought out deep meaning in the Dawkins' carefully crafted script, with emotions ranging from sprinkles of humor, despair, tragedy, hope and love.

Hononegah students transported their audiences back to 1920's Chicago, with the main action in the detailed setting of the “Fail Clock Works.” Actors perfected the nuances of specific functions of cuckoo, counter and wall clocks.

Directed by Mr. Christian Frieden and assistant director Mrs. Carolyn Frieden, a full ensemble cast and crew took on the challenging work of acting out a deeply rooted script, mixed with carefully placed musical numbers.

The cast immediately captured the audience's attention when the Failbottoms immigrated to America in a Stutz Bearcat, complete with umbrellas used as tires, and moved by actors.

Upon arrival, an Ellis Island desk clerk (Bella Mastroianni) shortens their name to Fail - joking that she was “going to take their bottoms off.”

In the play, the Fail's mother Marietta loses a child who is stillborn and she falls into a deep depression. Her daughter Jenny June recovers a baby in a basket from the Chicago River. But it is not the baby, but the snake he carries in his hand, who comes to be named Moses. The baby boy, named John N., is adopted by the Fails.

The Fail parents, Marietta (Naomi Rukin) and Henry (Maddox Lester), died in a car accident when their car plunged into the Chicago River on July 15, 1915, the same day as the Eastland disaster. The Maritime Eastland passenger ship capsized while tied to a dock in the Chicago River. The ship was overloaded and 800 passengers died.

Gabe Serrano Letona as the tugboat captain expresses the horror of the accident. Aubrey Hartweck played the Marine captain.

As is narrated, Nelly was the first to die, followed by her sisters Jenny, June and Gerty. Causes of death were blunt object, disappearance, and consumption.

Amelia Escamilla brought the character of Nelly to life. Nelly was the youngest of the three sisters, with dreams of becoming a professional singer, who filled her time with dancing. She had great enthusiasm and a zest for life.

Amelia Holmstrom played Jenny June. Her character aspired to become a competitive swimmer, practicing her strokes on a rolling chair.

During a competition, Jenny June disappeared into the water. A suitor named Mortimer Mortimer was cheering her on from the sidelines. He jumped in to find her, but no one ever could.

Senior Kirra Fluegel played Gerty who ran the family business, fixed time pieces, and took care of her siblings.

Nathan Shapiro played their adopted brother John N. who finds animals to be better company than people, and trains to be a veterinarian. John had a pet African boa constrictor named Moses.

Keira Jones gave an unforgettable performance as Pal the dog who is to be euthanized. She and John N remembered their time together.

Before Jenny June, Mortimer Mortimer (Malakhi Hilton), a wealthy investor, first meets Gerty. For her it was not love at first sight.

Mortimer fell for one sister before she passed away before falling for another.
Hilton's powerhouse vocals and acting prowess made the audience feel Mortimer Mortimer's hopefulness and pain.

One of the songs expresses his jealousy of Johnny Weismuller (Brayden Gibson), the Olympic swimmer that Jenny June had a crush on.

Smooth tones and beautiful vocals by senior Liv Simpson (as the gramophone) sang “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

A gramophone is conjured up by a person blowing into a horn while a bright green scarf turns into a parrot.

Parakeets December, Grantland and Rice (Ryan Nosbisch) felt great sadness after the loss of a person they loved.

In a memorable funeral scene, a mourner starts laughing awkwardly.

After losing Gerty, John throws a chair through the store window. He and Mortimer Mortimer lift each other up by looking at life's positives.

Musicians who played an integral part in the play were Namoi Rukin, Maddox Lester and Jennavieve Gale Harms.

The chorus of characters were Brayden Gibson as the Cuckoo Clock, Charlie Krieger as the Counter Clock, Aubrey Hartweck as the Wall Clock, and Gabe Serrano Letona as the Grandfather Clock.

Baylie Hutchins played the nurse who tended to Gerty when she was suffering from consumption.

Mae/Medic was played by Jordan Helgerson. Taylor Moreau was the Doctor. Nina McClung played the Reverend.

Ash Castillo and Angel Van were convincing as news reporters on a beat.

Cooper Wellen played Dodd. Toria Owens opened the front door to action.

Behind the scenes, Ellie Carmona was the stage manager, with Maddi Matrick as assistant stage manager, and Nicholas Archer as assistant stage manager apprentice. Chloe Baumgartner oversaw the crew.

Audio was controlled by Brayden Beck, Evan Gibson, Jackson Lawyer, Ollie Elting and Dallas Eliiottschultz. David Houhau, Landon Sumner and Tommy Wente took the reins with the lighting. Evan Guetschow operated a “fly rail.”

The props and costume advisor, Mrs. Kelley Beard, helped to capture the essence of every scene.

Props and costume crew consisted of Megahan Batch, Addi Hansen, AJ and Lily Jobst, Samantha Kallstrom, Asia Kugel, Katie Marshall, Adele Montgomery, Savanna Neiber, Kaitlyn “Splinky” Ogden, Callie Parker, Alistair Petz, Maddie Schnurr, Molly Vosberg and June Weidman.

Mr. Bradley Bond was the lead carpenter. Sean Mohler is the PAC manager.

The cast and crew of “Failure A Love Story” reminded audiences to fully embrace
the time we have before it runs out. The show received a well earned standing ovation.