Theater
"Painting Churches" paints the stageBY JORDYN WILLIAMS DEC. 18 2014
Winter is upon Rose, and with winter comes a multitude of different exciting activities. Though Christmas is just around the corner, not only is there still time for school activities like winter sports and chorus concerts, but there is also time for another Rampant production.
“Painting churches” was performed by the Rampant Theatrical Company this season. The play, which opened on Dec. 11, follows the lives of three family members: a dementia affected father, an eccentric mother and their artist daughter. “The play is about a dysfunctional family trying to move out of their house,” senior Kameron Duncan said. “They get their daughter to help them, and it just crumbles from there.” Duncan, who is portraying the mother, has contributed to a total of five plays over her four years here at Rose. She explained that the audition for “Painting Churches" consisted of an unrehearsed reading of the script in front of theater teacher and director Monica Edwards. “At auditions I tend to look for range of character, someone who doesn’t just sound like they’re reading lines,” Edwards said. “Someone with lots of energy.” After surviving the audition process, the students involved in the play had the seemingly difficult task of learning their lines. “I think this is definitely the hardest play I’ve had to do, because there are 90 pages I had to memorize, as opposed to the other plays where there was a lot less,” sophomore Sean Galvin said. “I like it though; it’s just a lot more serious.” Galvin played the father whom he said showed signs of dementia such as forgetfulness. Galvin, who has acted in four plays, mentioned that to master their 83-page script they had to attend many rehearsals before opening night. “We rehearsed just about every day after school for about an hour to an hour and a half,” Galvin said. However, rehearsing was not the only way the theater group prepared for the play. The whole cast and crew helped out in their own way by painting or decorating the set, getting lights ready or designing and organizing costumes. “We painted the stage and gathered some props,” Edwards said. “Some of the props didn’t even come in until the last second.” All of the preparation and planning that went into the play proved to be rewarding in the end according to many audience members. “I think it was a success, mostly because they knew their characters,” Edwards said. “I think it touched the audience, someone was able to relate that to their family life.” Relatable or not, the winter production of “Painting Churches” was extremely enjoyable for all those who attended. The Rampant Theatrical Company now looks to the future for their spring production, which is expected to be just as pleasing as the last. |
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