When librarian Russ Morrison was putting together his own ideas for Belmont secondary’s new learning commons, he told the design team that it should be modeled after the one in The Breakfast Club.
Little did he know how true his wish would become.
The room, which boasts a large open-concept space on the lower floor and the bulk of the book shelves on the upper, will act as the set of the iconic story when Belmont students perform their version of the John Hughes-directed story beginning on June 9.
When Morrison heard that teacher Sean Cowie was planning to put on a rendition of the play, he went to him and asked if the film teacher had thought about holding the play in the learning commons, a concept that Cowie was already toying with.
“When we were designing this place, The Breakfast Club came to mind and there’s this big open space,” Morrison laughed.
“It’s going to be pretty basic … it’s all about the actors. It’s not about the set design, although the set’s been built by our district … why not use it?” Cowie said.
Book shelves will be rolled out of the way and a screen will drop down in order to feature a few pre-recorded scenes for the show. Space will be limited to 100 audience members for each of the seven planned performances.
As for the cast, some of the main characters say there are some parallels to be drawn between themselves and the iconic five-some that gets slapped with an all-day detention.
Just like the characters they portray, the actors in Belmont’s upcoming performance of The Breakfast Club came from different friend groups but found a connection with each other.
“It’s pretty great how the point of the play and the morale is about different social settings and cliques in high school getting together and kind of relating to each other, and that’s kind of what happened with us … We’ve made some good friends,” said Noelle Ferguson, who will play the role of Claire Standish.
Liam Horgan, who will have the task of playing the bad-boy-with-a-heart John Bender, jokes that he’s been “getting in touch with his feminine side” while working on his portrayal.
He added: “I think you have to be a kind of a cocky, sarcastic and arrogant (character) to really sell it. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
Derek Peachey will portray “jock” Andrew Clark.
“I just fit the character. He’s a pretty laid back dude who tries to protect Claire for most of the play,” Peachey said.
Cowie will step in as principal Vernon, and was quick to praise the work of the ensemble cast, who have only been working on the production for a couple of months in order to have it ready for the June shows.
“They’ve all related quickly and well. Their characterization has been pretty fluid,” he said. “They’re exceptional. I’m very proud of this group. Outstanding commitment and energy and focus.”
The Breakfast Club will be on stage in Belmont’s learning commons on June 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15. All performances will start at 7 p.m., except for a 1 p.m. matinee on June 10.
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
Twitter: @joelgazette