Bronxville High School to Present ‘The Secret in the Wings’ as Fall Play

Bronxville High School will present “The Secret in the Wings” as its fall play from Nov. 1-2 at the school’s auditorium. Directed by Robert Cross, the spectacular production features a talented group of 24 cast members and 23 students working behind the scenes. 

Written by Mary Zimmerman, the play tells the story of a child who is abandoned for a date night by her preoccupied parents and left in the care of an imposing neighbor, who also happens to be an ogre complete with a reptilian tail. To pass the time, the ogre entertains the child with six dark Grimm Brothers fairy tales, which come to life on stage. The tales range from comic to macabre, disturbing, hopeful and everything in between.

“I chose ‘The Secret in the Wings’ partially because I find fairy tales and psychology inherently interesting, and partially because of the show’s ensemble nature,” said Cross, who described the show as wonderfully weird, wildly imaginative and intensely evocative. “We’re blessed at Bronxville to have so many talented young actors, particularly the senior class. I wanted to include as much of their talent as we possibly could. The physical, ensemble-based staging, as well as the multiple storylines and roles, fit perfectly with a versatile, mature cast.” 

The senior actors include Randy Ayala, Ally Bruno, George Cooney, Ella Crawford, Esther Devitt, Sofia Fenner, Alana McGinness, Jack Moore, Delaney O'Brien, Caroline Pastilha, Grace Sperber, Victoria Vigorito and Cole Zucker.

In the play, the stories span land, sea and air as they call for multiple monarchs and kingdoms, magical snakes, humans transforming into swans, decapitations, a ghost child, a calamitous ocean voyage, and more than a few surprises along the way. Cross said he is proud of the students for infusing the kings and queens, monsters and innocents, swans and peasants with their life and talent.

“‘The Secret in the Wings’ demands an imaginative, fully committed, multitalented ensemble to bring these fairy tales to life, and that is exactly what the students bring to each rehearsal,” Cross said. “We hope the audience finds ‘The Secret in the Wings’ as magical and full of wonder as the stories it derives from.” 
 
Performances are on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Bronxville School auditorium. Tickets are $10. They will be available at the door and can be purchased ahead of time at Eventbrite.com.