WHS Drama Presents‘ Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse’

Winthrop High School (WHS) Drama Society will be presenting “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” on Friday, May 12, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m., in the Neil Shapiro Center for Performing Arts. The children’s theater piece tells the story of Lilly, an excitable young mouse with a new baby brother and a passion for school.

“She is a little girl who has big feelings and a big imagination,” smiled junior, Sarah Delehanty, who portrays Lilly. “She learns how to apologize and be a good friend.”

Upbeat Lilly is proud of her handbag and brings it to class; but when she becomes distracted and makes a mean comment to her teacher, she is relegated to sit in the uncooperative chair.

“My favorite part of the show is the dream sequence. Lilly imagines the FBI,” chuckled Delehanty. “I think it will be a hit with the audience, too.”

Nearly six-feet-tall Delehanty enjoys the merriment of playing a child and collaborating with the cast and crew in creating music and choreography.

Costume designer, Zoe Long, doubles as Lilly’s silly mother, who is focused on caring for her newborn.

“It’s a colorful show with fun shapes,” described Long, a senior. “We built big mouse ears.”

The stage is lively with students riding on scooters and playing with yoyos. Cheerful mouse, Wilson can be seen playing tennis and croquet with his best friend, Chester.

“It’s fun to play him. He’s a goofy, little character,” said senior, Matthew Polino. “My favorite scene is the opening picnic. There are long, ridiculous, alliterated names of foods. Wilson eats a watermelon and panics because he thinks a watermelon is going to grow in his stomach. It’s cute and funny.”

“Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse,” which emphasizes the importance of consideration and forgiveness, was written by Kevin Kling, and adapted from books by Kevin Henkes. Tickets cost $7 for students and seniors, $10 for adults, and can be purchased with cash only at the door.