November 19, 2025 – Submitted by Hingham High Drama, Photos by Joshua Ross
The Drowsy Chaperone, which opens Thursday for a three show run, delivers laughter, surprises, and a celebration of musical theater itself. The quirky production bills itself as “a musical within a comedy.” The show centers on a neurotic musical theater fan known only as Man in Chair, who plays the audience his favorite 1920s Broadway musical. As the record spins, the fictional show springs to life right in his living room, complete with a cast of bizarre and hilarious characters including bumbling gangsters, a Latin lover, and the tipsy title character who runs interference between the bachelor and a bride with cold feet.
Hingham High Junior Graeme Baker, who plays Man in Chair, described the show’s unique premise with, “Characters coming through the windows, bookshelves, fridge….it’s very funny and over the top. It’s a show within a show with my character as the guide, adding context and snarky remarks throughout.”
Senior Annie Daley who plays the title character added, “This is such a fun show. You’ll love it whether you’re a fan of musical theater or not,” Daley said. “There are so many surprises and great scenes that show how hard everyone is working. Michael Blackwood (Hingham High Junior) even learned how to roller skate for his character!”
Director and Hingham High Drama teacher Maureen Fish chose this unconventional production for a specific reason. “I chose this show as a vehicle for the strengths of our program,” Fish explained. “At the moment, we happen to have an abundance of excellent comedic actors in Hingham High Drama! Despite its lightness, comedy is actually a very difficult genre to perform, and I wanted to offer our students a challenge for their comedic timing and deftness.”
While The Drowsy Chaperone parodies golden age musicals with affection, Fish notes that Man in Chair “exploits every last detail to the delight of the audience, and reminds us that laughter is a very potent medicine.”
Award-winning student set designer and Senior Tag Tomlinson has created something truly special for this production. This set is a playground for the audience’s imagination: transporting them to a dazzling 1920’s musical within the confines of an apartment. Said Tomlinson, “There are so many unexpected things. We made a working Murphy bed that doubles as a sort of door where actors can come on and off stage. Characters climb through windows, vents, and a door we made to look like a refrigerator. We even partnered with the Robotics team to build a real working sink in the middle of the stage. I’ve never seen that in any show before.”
Daley also encourages the audience to keep an eye out for familiar faces, “Everyone–cast, crew, pit–is so great and there are so many kids in the production who do other things like sports or music. You’ll definitely know someone on stage.”
The show is campy and whimsical with big production numbers, catchy tunes and throwback references to other musicals, but also delivers some tender moments. Said Baker who plays Man in Chair, “In the end it’s a really touching story about learning to live in the real world.”
A proud and beaming Director Fish said, “I have seen the students grow bigger and bolder throughout the entire rehearsal process, and I can’t wait to see what happens when they have an audience to respond to,” she said. “They are going to blow the roof off the place!”
Tickets are on sale now through the link below. The Drowsy Chaperone opens tomorrow night at the Hingham Middle School stage. Show times, 7pm.
