With the audience on its feet, Cowboy Theatre Company’s Saturday production of “Men on Boats” was a success. The standing ovation in the Coppell High School Black Box Theatre can largely be credited to the comical plot and extraordinary actors.

The satire starts with the all non-cisgender cast re-enacting the 1869 journey of John Wesley Powell. The show engaged the audience, keeping the viewers on the edge of their seats. Even though there were moments of heartbreak, the actors kept the audience captivated with scenes providing comedic relief.

What sets this production apart from the rest is that the cast members had only one full rehearsal during tech week before the play was performed. Tech week is the week prior to the opening of the show where cast members run through the play and correct any mistakes.

“On Friday, we ended up canceling the show and just doing our tech then,” CHS junior lead actress Trinity Tackett who played John Wesley Powell said. “So we really only had one fluid day of tech. The other two [days of rehearsal] were just running through stuff; it wasn’t really full show type [practices].”

Furthermore, this production was student directed by CHS senior Emma Hoque.

“My favorite part of working on the show was watching Emma masterfully direct these students and navigate [through] a lot of hardships and difficulties,” CHS theatre director Karen Ruth said. 

The amount of effort Hoque put into the production was greatly appreciated by cast members.

“Emma was given the task of being the student director, and that is a difficult task to do,” Tackett said. “She did everything; she had a vision [that the] crew carried out perfectly. We took her words and put them on stage. That’s just a very difficult task for someone and I think it’s very admirable and very amazing that she was able to do that. “

Through the production, the cast grew closer, bettering their experience and performance.

“Everyone has been very supportive,” Tackett said. “It’s been a very good bonding experience. Our crew is fantastic. [I] could not live without them. They worked so hard, everything is perfect to the T: the sound, light ops, everything. Being able to have that close knit bond is what theaters are about.”

Overally, the production was a success with appreciation from all.

“We’ve been killing it these past two shows,” CHS sophomore stage manager Leon Jackson said. “[The show’s] completely satire, it’s so funny, and come see it because it’s good.”

Follow Sri (@sriachanta_) and @CHSCampusNews on Twitter.