Chamber Theatre’s Double Feature Explores the Depths of the Imagination
December 26, 2009 • written by Samantha Hartfiel
The increasing popularity of the Park High School Theatre department was evident this winter as auditions for the annual Chamber Theatre production were held. While normally about twenty to forty students audition for Chamber Theatre, which is an opportunity for all students to sample theater in a stress free and simple environment, 130 eager students auditioned for this year’s production of Alice in Wonderland. Therefore, while Park had only planned to perform one show, the Chamber Theatre’s policy to allow all students an opportunity to be a part of a play was upheld and the cast was split in two, with one half performing Alice in Wonderland, and the other portion presenting Pinocchio.
With only two months to prepare and two productions to perfect by December 13, the theatre department was very busy. Unfortunately, it appeared that the large task was too much for the department to handle, ultimately producing two mediocre shows in comparison to the average excellent performances. Yet while the shows were not necessarily noteworthy, the impact of the theatre is increasing in the school, for the number of students involved was tremendous. Therefore, after two months of hard work produced by a dedicated cast, the assembly performed two shows on December 13th, one at 1 PM and the other at 5 PM.
The show began with Alice in Wonderland, starring junior Brittany Eckes as innocent Alice. The hour long performance directed by Ms. Ball included many of the elements that made Alice in Wonderland so imaginative such as the Mad Hatter’s love for tea parties, the mischievous Cheshire Cat played by Dalton Schank, and the obnoxious Queen of Hearts followed loyally by her band of cards screaming “Off with their heads!” However, overall the play was extremely chaotic and difficult to follow. Since the production had to be downsized due to timing, the scene changes occurred without any obvious change in scenery, thus characters seemed to be constantly running on and off the stage with no real purpose. Also, there were so many characters that no development of anyone was breached because the amount of time that they were showcased was extremely limited. Yet the characters that were continually included, such as Cody Klipsic and Dorsey Sprouls as the Mad Hatter and the March Hare brought humor to the show and were seen as favorites at the end of the performance since they were given the opportunity to be developed.
After a short intermission, the collection of plays continued with Pinocchio. The Disney classic, which starred Mike Soto as Pinocchio and was directed by A Midsummer Night’s Dream Mrs. Caponigri, was a shorter play and only lasted about forty five minutes. This colorful production was much more interactive with the audience, including a scene where Geppetto, played by senior Zach Butler, addressed the audience to help him collect Pinocchio’s school books, which were placed under audience members seats during intermission. The piece included many of the scenes that made Pinocchio a classic as well, such as the marionettes, which were played by students whose lips moved almost in perfect synch to their respective puppeteers, the whale made up of cast members, and also Hickory Cricket who called for help from the audience via chirps.
Generally, the Chamber Theatre’s double feature proved to be an adequate opportunity for students to experience theater. The expansion of the theater department highlights the growth in the school and provided new stars for later productions. Ultimately, the Park High School’s season of dreams continued with a positive note and ought to continue to provide entertainment for the rest of the season.
Picture Drawn by Samantha Langenfeld (12th grade)
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