The stomping of hooves and the call of the Wild West went through the CHS9 Dome on Wednesday and Thursday as the Coppell High School Ninth Grade Campus presented its UIL One-Act Play competition “The Wild Bunch Women.”
Directed by CHS9 theater director Eugenia Montoya and tech director Colin Thomas, the play follows Pearl Hart, an outlaw trying to escape her past with her group of female outlaws to safety. On the way, they stop at a small town in Texas and are faced with a bunch of angry nuns and an orphaned teenage girl who has a secret connection with Pearl Hart.
Freshman Snigdha Koti played Pearl Hart and brought the character’s strength and vulnerability to the stage.
“We were really excited to see her in that role,” Malati Koti, Snigdha’s mother said. “Everyone did wonderfully, it was a great show, and we really enjoyed it.”
Though the story went smoothly on stage, putting it together came with its own set of challenges.
“Definitely trying to juggle two casts doing the same play,” Montoya said. “It was a lot more challenging than we thought it would be. Each show had its own dynamics, its own group of technicians and actors and it meant adapting constantly.”
There were some technical hurdles added to the pressure. Lighting and sound elements were introduced late in the rehearsal process, giving the cast and crew limited time to adjust.
“We didn’t get a whole lot of rehearsal time with the technical elements,” Montoya said. “But I think everyone did a great job. They adjusted quickly and gave strong performances despite that.”
Freshman Norah Ireland, who plays Abigail, agreed.
“It was probably the best show we’ve done,” Ireland said. “We’ve had a few mess ups in the past, but this time it was really smooth, even though it was stressful getting the timing right.”
The production features a double set of cast members and technicians between Wednesday and Thursday performances. Each version of the show was altered for its different group.
“Thursday’s show has a bigger cast and a different set of technicians,” Montoya said “That’s something I’ve had to juggle as a director. But I’m incredibly proud of all of them. They’ve come a long way.”
In the final scene, Pearl reflects on her journey and the bond she shared with her crew, calling them her family.
“That line is more than just a moment in the show,” Montoya said. “It reflects what happened off stage too. This cast created their own little family over the past two months.”
Like for many audience members, Snigdha’s father, Phaniveer Koti, felt that emotion coming through loud and clear.
“At the end, I had tears in my eyes,” he said. “It was beautiful and sentimental. I really loved it.”
Following “The Wild Bunch Women,” CHS9 continued the weekend of performances with “The Giver” by the second-period productions class, CHS9’s top theater group.
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