SOUTH OTSELIC – Instead of performing one of the many recycled plays seen performed in school districts again and again, the students at Otselic Valley decided to take a different approach and act out a play that had not been seen in the school in over 40 years.

On Friday and Saturday, the OVCS students will perform a version of “Tom Jones.” The play, based on the 18th century novel by Henry Fielding, is a comedic tale about romance, birth and nobility.

“I knew I was looking for a comedy,” said student director Taylor Duell. “This was the last one I read, and it was different than anything we had ever done.”

“Tom Jones” tells the story of the title character – played by Tyler Davis – a foundling child who is raised by a noble family. “It’s about Tom Jones and his adventures as he falls in love with a girl of nobility. It’s a comedic story of how he goes through that,” Duell said. The plot revolves around a romance between the base born Jones and his noble-born neighbor Sophia Western – played by Amber Davis. The couple, forbidden to be together, follow each other through a series of comedic events and adventures, determined to someday be together.

The three act play contains a cast of 24 students – including eight seniors – a student director and a 14 member, student-run, stage crew.