Spring Play Festival showcases student talent
Patrick Harris
Issue date: 5/8/09 Section: A&E
The role of the cast in this should not be overlooked-Liz Tarantelli and Rachel Jenack were remarkable as the main couple, while Matthew Dubrey displayed an excellent grasp of the hapless yet reprehensible Stephen. Chelsea Wischerth's performance as the Professor added the perfect touch of understated comic relief. Ms. Harrington held a question and answer session after the opening night performance to gather feedback from the audience, as the piece is a work in progress and may yet undergo some revision. Should this piece, or any others from Ms. Harrington's ongoing cycle, be performed again, students would be well advised to attend.
Socrates on Trial is a complex piece written by a professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia. The first act is an adaptation of Aristophanes' The Clouds, a comedy lampooning Socrates and his philosophies, which many believe played an important role at his trial. Acts two and three, covering the trial and execution, are based on the writings of Plato. The second act especially is noteworthy in the use of audience participation-hecklers "in the jury" are seated throughout the theater, and members of the audience are invited to join in. Further, a randomly-chosen portion of the audience is invited to cast their vote on Socrates' fate, though this seems entirely too gimmicky-one suspects that any audience of this play will universally vote for acquittal, but the outcome is rather obviously immutable.
The performance of the cast was excellent, drawing the audience in with high energy silliness, and though the actors were too numerous to name here, a few should be singled out. Heather Horning, in her role as chorus head and trial archon, provided excellent narration to bind the seemly separate acts together. Vincent Cerasoli and Caitlin Dalton, both as personified arguments and as hecklers, were entertaining beyond description. Laura Fishlock brought the perfect blend of seemly guileless ingenuity to the role of Socrates' devil's advocate amidst the hecklers, while Robert Mellon displayed remarkable talent as Crito, his voice dominating the theater all the way from the back row. Finally, of course, Nick Abounader as the title character of Socrates displayed an incredible characterization, bringing together a combination of righteous humility and disciplined fatalism that took the third act, which could easily have felt tacked on, and made the entire point of the show. Director Mandy Keister is to be congratulated for an excellent show.
Socrates on Trial is a complex piece written by a professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia. The first act is an adaptation of Aristophanes' The Clouds, a comedy lampooning Socrates and his philosophies, which many believe played an important role at his trial. Acts two and three, covering the trial and execution, are based on the writings of Plato. The second act especially is noteworthy in the use of audience participation-hecklers "in the jury" are seated throughout the theater, and members of the audience are invited to join in. Further, a randomly-chosen portion of the audience is invited to cast their vote on Socrates' fate, though this seems entirely too gimmicky-one suspects that any audience of this play will universally vote for acquittal, but the outcome is rather obviously immutable.
The performance of the cast was excellent, drawing the audience in with high energy silliness, and though the actors were too numerous to name here, a few should be singled out. Heather Horning, in her role as chorus head and trial archon, provided excellent narration to bind the seemly separate acts together. Vincent Cerasoli and Caitlin Dalton, both as personified arguments and as hecklers, were entertaining beyond description. Laura Fishlock brought the perfect blend of seemly guileless ingenuity to the role of Socrates' devil's advocate amidst the hecklers, while Robert Mellon displayed remarkable talent as Crito, his voice dominating the theater all the way from the back row. Finally, of course, Nick Abounader as the title character of Socrates displayed an incredible characterization, bringing together a combination of righteous humility and disciplined fatalism that took the third act, which could easily have felt tacked on, and made the entire point of the show. Director Mandy Keister is to be congratulated for an excellent show.
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