By Ana Hofmann, Year 10
The Year 10 play is an adaptation of Holes, the 1998 adventure novel by Louis Sachar. This stage production will bring to life the story of Stanley Yelnats, a boy who experiences a family curse, friendship, and a search for hidden treasure. The play will be performed in mid-March at the Centre des Arts Theatre (CDA). Under the direction of Dafydd White, with production assistance from Eunice Lynch, and sound/lighting managed by Edmundo Timm, this performance promises to be an event you will not want to miss!
Holes is a novel about Stanley Yelnats, a boy whose family is punished by bad luck due to a curse from his great-grandfather, who failed to honor an old agreement with a gypsy. Wrongfully accused of stealing shoes, Stanley is sent to Camp Green Lake, a so-called “re-educating” camp for troubled youth. At this camp, Stanley and the other campers must dig a hole every day as part of the camp’s character-building program. As Stanley spends more time at the camp, he learns about the legend of Kissin’ Kate Barlow, an outlaw who buried a treasure before she died. The story accentuates Stanley’s friendship with Zero, a quiet yet smart boy at the camp. Together, they discover secrets about the camp and find unexpected connections to the treasure.
The play is divided into two acts, each featuring different casts, where the same characters are portrayed by different actors. This structure shows a diverse and dynamic interpretation of the characters, bringing new energy to each performance.
The central theme of the play is the powerful bond of friendship between Stanley and Zero. Though they come from very different backgrounds and have very different personalities, their friendship grows into a source of strength that helps them overcome the harsh conditions of Camp Green Lake. The play shows the unbreakable bonds of friendship that exist even in the most challenging environments, with all the characters at the camp finding brotherhood and joy in each other’s company. Additionally, the theme of fate is explored through Stanley’s family history, as the Yelnats’ curse seems to change his life at every turn.
This play adaptation remains very similar to Louis Sachar’s novel, ensuring that the theme of the story remains the same. The audience will easily recognize key moments from the book, but with the added energy of live theater. One of the most important elements of the play is how it captures the generations of the Yelnats family, showing their evolution across time. Each generation is portrayed with different accents and clothing, helping the audience understand the deep connection between past and present, and the legacy of the family curse.
This is a play that will entertain, move, and inspire. Whether you are a fan of the book or new to the story, the Year 10 production of Holes promises an unforgettable experience.
