The leading actors in Royal Bay secondaryB次元官网网址檚 upcoming performance of Ash Girl share a common challenge; they both have to perform in roles that are nothing like their own personalities.

Neither Chantelle Potier (Ash Girl) nor Hunter Gantzert (Prince Amir) are naturally angry or upset people, but both will try their best to portray characters with which they share few traits.

The play is based on Cinderella, but stays truer to the original, darker story than the kiddy Walt Disney version, including a truly wicked stepmother and stepsisters.

The title character is mostly a sad and lonely victim, meaning Potier has had to work extra hard to ensure that she doesnB次元官网网址檛 bring that psyche into her day-to-day life.

B次元官网网址淕etting into that mentality and not having it affect my life outside, and being able to leave the stage and have it not follow me ... itB次元官网网址檚 difficult,B次元官网网址� she says.

Gantzert, who describes himself as a happy, friendly guy, has found it difficult to portray the rough-around-the-edges prince.

B次元官网网址淎mirB次元官网网址檚 a very angry person. HeB次元官网网址檚 coming from a war-torn country into a whole new world ... for me that was just difficult,B次元官网网址� he says.

But thatB次元官网网址檚 partly why theatre director Melissa Young put the pair in their respective roles, hoping it would bring out a new side in their abilities.

B次元官网网址淲hen I cast I want to hook into what they do well but also challenge them,B次元官网网址� Young says, adding praise for both of the leading actorsB次元官网网址� versatility while developing in their respective roles.

The story is set in a mysterious forest filled with seven deadly monsters, all of which replicate the seven deadly sins.

In addition to the usual antagonists of her evil stepmother and stepsisters, Ash Girl must battle her own insecurities.

ItB次元官网网址檚 this modern and, at times, psychological look at a well-known story that drew Young to choose the play.

B次元官网网址淚 wanted a play that was a challenge for my actors. The play presented the classic story but thereB次元官网网址檚 also lots and lots of different layers to it, which give them lots of acting challenges,B次元官网网址� Young explains.

All of the playB次元官网网址檚 actors are in the schoolB次元官网网址檚 senior acting group B次元官网网址� better known as the Black Wing Theatre Company B次元官网网址� a class that takes in students keen on performing.

Working alongside the performers are the production team, made up of students from YoungB次元官网网址檚 theatre production class.

Potier and Gantzert, both in Grade 12, are young veterans of the acting scene.

Potier has been acting in plays since she was in Grade 5, while Gantzert has taken acting classes throughout high school and been under YoungB次元官网网址檚 tutelage since Grade 10. He says acting has helped him fit in with a

new social group.

B次元官网网址淎ll throughout school I was never the popular kid or the sporty kid, and then in Grade 9, I decided I was going to take drama and thatB次元官网网址檚 just really where I found my people,B次元官网网址� he says.

Potier isnB次元官网网址檛 sure what her future holds, but she knows sheB次元官网网址檇 like to have acting be a part of it.

B次元官网网址淚 would like to have multiple careers and I think acting would be a good one to have as well.B次元官网网址�

And as the young stars get ready to have the curtain raised on their three-night run, thereB次元官网网址檚 little doubt which scenes will command some extra rehearsal time. For Potier, itB次元官网网址檚 the transition sheB次元官网网址檒l have to make from the poor, down on her luck Ash Girl to the sparkling, beautiful belle of the ball.

But for Gantzert, his challenge is much more physical in nature.

B次元官网网址淭here are very fast scene changes where I go off down stage right and within four lines I have to come back on up stage left. There are three of us that have to run all the way around the theatre to get back on stage to be there in time,B次元官网网址� he laughs.

joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com