A New Way To Pay Old Debts, 7th Annual High School Play

Ambleside School of Fredericksburg will present their 7th annual Upper School play on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6 at 7:00 pm nightly at Zion Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 426 West Main Street, Fredericksburg. A New Way to Pay Old Debts was written in 1625 by Phillip Massinger and is set in Nottinghamshire, England in the 17th century. The performance opens with the prodigal Wellborn, played by eighth grader Laurel Woodman, unsuccessfully trying to get a drink at a pub. The bartenders are unforgiving and insolent, which results in Wellborn losing his temper and thoroughly thrashing them. The play continues as the villain, Sir Giles Overreach, played by eighth grader Aaron Talley, tries to marry his reluctant daughter to the Lord Lovell, played by sophomore Alan Littman. The production closes with the villain foiled, lovers united, and Wellborn returned to his rightful position as a noble Lord.

The role of the Lady Allworth, a young widow, and stepmother to the squire Allworth, is played by sophomore and Swiss exchange student Christina Leistner. Young Tom Allworth, who strongly cares for the lovely Margaret, is played by eighth grader Ali Stephens, while Margaret Overreach, the daughter of Sir Giles, is performed by Sidney Adams. Eighth grader Xander Young acts the part of the crooked justice of peace, Greedy Woodcock, while junior Kassie Mikeska plays the part of Furnace the cook and the Parson Willdo. Freshman Patrick Eberle performs the part of Jack Marrall, the henchman of Sir Giles Overreach, and sophomore Vickie Eberle acts the part of the bartender’s wife Froth and other servants. The performance is directed by Chuck Dobson, assisted by Ambleside upper school teacher Tony Watson.