Laughter filled the school commons at Wolsey-Wessington High School on Jan. 30 as the drama department presented the one-act comedy The Elf on the Shelf Must Die by Don Zolidis.
The fast-paced show drew a strong crowd and kept the audience laughing with its over-the-top characters and holiday-themed humor. The plot follows two kids whose hopes for an Xbox are threatened by a watchful Elf on the Shelf — and things spiral into a “Tarantinoesque” Christmas caper when the elf is accidentally killed and must be brought back to life before Santa finds out.
Director Karen Jensen said the cast had a great time bringing the show to life, noting that the script’s wide range of characters gave every student a chance to shine.
“We had a lot of fun putting together the one-act play this year as the play included so many unique characters,” Jensen said. “We also had a strong group of senior leaders who helped push the younger cast members to really get into character.”
Despite facing a few obstacles along the way — including illness, injuries and scheduling conflicts — Jensen said the students rose to the challenge.
“The entire cast and crew really pulled off putting on a great show,” she said.
One fun fact, Jensen added, is that the production featured three pairs of siblings in the cast, with each pair including a senior.
The cast included Sawyer Nelson, Maria Nelson, Jett Kleinsasser, Kendal Uttecht, Caleb Richmond, Penuel Richards, Connor Beals, Clay Kahre, Ethan Rearick, Shae Uttecht, Della Holmes, Arianna Langbehn, Emily Beals, Camille Rearick, Raya Toupal and Cooper Timm.
The production was directed by Jensen, with Julie Boomsma serving as assistant director. Students handled all technical and set responsibilities, including Taylor Eichstadt, Jobie Moses and Loli Papadaki on lights and sound, and Irelyn Salisbury, Ryder Jensen and Cooper Timm on set. Allison Hulst served as understudy.
Several cast members earned recognition at the region competition, including Jett Kleinsasser, Kendal Uttecht, Caleb Richmond, Connor Beals and Ethan Rearick, with Sawyer Nelson and Clay Kahre receiving honorable mention.