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| Front Row L - R - Sophia Joy, Sophie Rhiannon Long - 2nd Row: Rosie Quintana, Stella Cricket McSween, Alexis Rosinsky, Renee Ortega, 3rd Row: Justin Roslinda, Nikolas Fawcett, Nolan LeMay |
By Joe Straw
I’m about the second grumpiest person I know. These days it’s a physical thing, not feeling quite right, a head thing, my knees ache, my back hurts, I feel a touch of arthritis and my weight weighs on me in unbelievable ways. There have only been three times in my life that I had forgotten about all those things and felt the best I’ve ever felt in my life, the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, and watching this play was one of those times. – Narrator
It’s just a normal day, in the year of someone's Lord 2018, in a normal small town, at a small 11th grade high school classroom in a southern Appalachian Georgia town northeast of Atlanta comprised of four girls and two boys studying sex education, choral reading boring text right out of the book instead of just having an honest dialogue.
Most of the students in this small community have probably been together since grade school. Beth Powell (Sophia Joy) is the brains of this outfit answering all the questions with the exuberance of a Jack Terrier puppy. Ivy Watkins (Stella Cricket McSween) Beth’s best friend is sitting alongside of her doing her best to compete. Nell Shaw (Sophie Rhiannon Long), slightly more sophisticated girl from Atlanta, tries to get in with thoughts of her own and Lee Turner (Nolan LeMay) and Mason Adams (Justin Roslinda) are just trying to make it through a slog of a day, both intelligent but unwilling to make an effort for now. But, overall, the class is not into the automation of text reading, sex or not! The female classmates, particularly Beth, are moved to get into the discussion of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible in honors English class. And Beth can’t get there fast enough.
Carter Smith (Nikolas Fawcett), a young teacher, will not take the bait, but then, for just a moment, he gives them a taste of The Crucible writing on the board before dropping a piece of chalk on the floor.
And with that benign miscalculation, or calculation, all things in this classroom start to slowly unravel in unpredictable ways.
Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts Repertory presented John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower directed by Andy Philpot, May 16-18, 2024.
Entering the Severson Theatre, an arena stage for today, the Pacific Conservatory of The Performing Arts one was wondering which side of the stage would provide the best viewing edge. Sometimes these decisions can be so precarious, sight lines and so on. But in this beautiful theatre and an equally wonderful production there were no viewing tribulations, every seat in this production was a good one.
Andy Philpot has directed a marvelous production of John Proctor Is The Villain filled with so much life and angst that you are on the edge of your seat anticipating the next travesty of outspoken text, or unspoken inner dialogue. Philpot and his pugnacious instincts have created an epic battle between the characters that are operating sometimes in silent deferential tones where, at the end of the performance, one just does not want to leave the theatre. The acting was high octane with an invisible and outstanding driving force that propelled the actors to unimaginable heights and ultimately is a testament to the sublime workings of the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts.
High school is filled with so many variables, and through that scope of unpredictable and faltering events Kimberly Belflower has written a smart and tantalizing play that covers both the external surface of high school dialogue and the inner-workings or teenage angst. The play is a prodigious exploration of humanity, all within the classroom, and surrounded by darkest fault of one adult intentionally acting horrendously, persevering when he is not held to task. And this is done with Arthur Miller’s The Crucible as the backdrop, also rearing its ugly head in the wings. The parallels with the play and even with the current events of the day make this an unbelievable outing. The staccato dialogue of each of the characters is done in such a way that no one wants to make a mistake, or to offend, or to cause harm, and then regrets when their mouths, ponderously ajar, gets ahead of their minds. The ominous silence reflecting a great deal of destruction and pain that they all must work through.
This may be the finest and remarkable cast one has ever witnessed.
L - R Alexis Rosinsky and Sophia Joy
Sophia Joy as Beth Powell is an obsequious student and she wants life to be all inclusive, starting a feminist club that will include boys. Given what’s been going on in school, there are others who don’t think that it’s a good idea. But Beth is smart and persuasive and usually gets her way. Beth also hasn’t experienced a lot in life and is sometimes naive given the things that are going on around her. Still, she pushes through for the most favorable outcome. Sophia’s work is free, and her physical and emotional work onstage is outstanding as she glides along in her swivel chair finding answers to her questions.
Nikolas Fawcett, as Carter Smith, the teacher is a character with underlying motives. He moves about pleasantly doing his job before we discover his passion for manipulation and wants. He is married with a baby on the way but has been caught doing things he should not have been involved in dismissing his accusers with the wave of his hand. Fawcett’s work grows in increments throughout the course of the play, eyes moistening in pain to gain favor for the chance of one more conquest, and then showing his true self as the play ends.
Alexis Rosinsky is Shelby Holcomb a young woman who has made a few bad choices getting herself sent to Atlanta for a sabbatical to live with her aunt. She returns from Atlanta unexpectedly, somewhat as a mystery, grasping the reaction of each student eyeing her homecoming with unanswered yet to be asked questions. Shelby comes back with a steel resolve, unable or unwilling to articulate her words at first, she manages to gain enough courage and strength to make things right without destroying the community. Rosinsky’s craft is strong, her backstory plays well giving her a grand physical and emotional life. Her eyes do most of her talking as she moves about getting justice. This was definitively a superb performance and someone who may have a long career given a lucky draw of the cards.
Sophie Rhiannon Long is also excellent as Nell Shaw a newbie to the school moving in from Atlanta. She is out of the loop, for now, but catches up quickly to get the information to fit right in. Nell is intelligent and has a very nice scene that takes us away from certain harsh realities of high school life. It is a scene that gives long after you have left the theatre.
Stella Cricket McSween has a very nice presence on stage as Ivy Watkins. Ivy is a person who has unconditional love for her father despite the problems he is having in his job and problems with his family life. In this small town those problems are having a devastating effect on her life at school and with her friends. Ivy is suddenly at a crossroads in her life not knowing where to go given the circumstances in her life. McSween has a commanding presence on stage.
Renee Ortega is exceptional as Raelynn Nix, a young lady who is not only having a boyfriend problem (someone she has been seeing since the age of 11) but also her best friend who has problems messing around with her boyfriend. She is being torn between her two friends and has decided on further exploration of her life’s choices. Ortega is commanding in her choices and is funny on stage despite some serious life’s moments
Justin Roslinda does an extremely nice turn as Mason Adams a young man who doesn’t take high school seriously, basketball was his game and maybe he didn’t take that seriously enough either because they didn’t make the playoffs and now, he’s stuck, trying to catch up to get extra credit any way he can get it. Probably the best thing to happen to him was to join the feminist club to get a deeper understanding of human nature, his and theirs. The scene with Nell was one the nicest highlights of the show in a show filled with highlights. Roslinada is excellent in his craft.
Nolan LeMay plays Lee Turner a young man caught in a predicament with his girlfriend’s best friend. Although in a lengthy relationship his hormones take over and moves him in ways he doesn’t understand, certainly ways that his former girlfriend doesn’t understand. Lee is an unscrupulous character, a wayward look of unkempt hair, and ill-fitting clothes who believes he is more than he is, and with all that to consider he must come back from a long way down and he needs to do it soon.
Rosie Quintana is Bailey Gallagher, the guidance counselor, new to the job and wants to look after her students. But she is a rules follower and doesn’t want to rock the academic boat. She is willing to give a little leeway so that everyone is happy, teacher and students. She has a perfect quietude as she explores the relationships around her. Quintana is excellent in the role.
This is a perfect play for college students – not to far removed from high school life – and is an excellent play, an impeccable play with adult themes, and all around the play was a perfect night/day of theatre.
Also doing double duty as crew members – and we will give credit where credit is due:
Cody Soper – Lighting Designer
Andy Philpot – Sound Designer
Nikolas Fawcett, Sophie Long, and Alexis Rosinsky – Dialect Coaches
David Genge – Stage Manager
Sophia Joy, Sophie Long, and Rosie Quintana – Costume Coordinator
Nolan LeMay – Props Coordinator
Paige Lutkus – Light Board Operator
Frankie Jensen – Deck Crew
If you get the chance run to see this show.