Presenting Julius Caesar
The Woodhall Players performed an unconventional production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar on Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22, in the Abigail J. Woodhall Theater.
Using a cast of ten actors, this original production unveiled the bloody and politically complex society of ancient Rome using Shakespeare's celebrated words. The ensemble was tight; each actor was called upon to play two or more roles so the company had to learn to work together with unprecedented discipline and teamwork. They learned stage fighting and combat skills along with the not-so-subtle use of copious stage blood, so they were prepared for battle and assassination!
-Anthony Sherer, Director
Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
The Woodhall School Drama Department proudly presented Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot on February 12 and 13, 2010 in the Abigail J. Woodhall Theater. Mr. Gelzheiser directed, assisted ably by Ms. Goddard and Mr. Sherer. The play stared veterans to the Woodhall stage, Aleks Birnhak '12, Charlie Burnett '11, Robert Rappoport '10, Jake Tompkins '10, and, making his theatrical debut at Woodhall, Sam Londer '11.
The Woodhall Players took the audience on an existential journey to a barren waste land in which two old friends, Vladimir and Estragon, spent their days waiting for he mysterious Godot to arrive, for the day to end, and to be saved from waiting. They were joined by hilarious and heart-wrenching characters – Pozzo, Lucky, and the Boy – who helped pass the time.
Considered one of the most significant English language plays of the 20th century, Waiting for Godot is Beckett's translation of his own original French version, En attendant Godot, and is subtitled in English only "a tragicomedy in two acts." The première was on 5 January 1953 in the Théâtre de Babylone in Paris, France.1
1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Godot
Photos by Tony Sherer
*********************************************************************
The Woodhall School Receives Halo Award for Best Play
Each Spring the Seven Angels Theatre, in Waterbury, Ct, awards its Halo Awards to area school drama productions.
In 2009 the nominees were for 37 productions from 22 schools.
The Woodhall School was nominated for 6 awards for our Winter Term production of Stage Blood, by Robert Ludlam: Best Play, Best Male Actor in a Play, Best Female Actor in a Play, Best Lighting, Best Sound, and Best Stage Management.
Congratulations to the cast and crew!
The 2009 Winter Term Drama production was Charles Ludlam's Stage Blood, a farce about a down and out acting company forced out of desperation to take a booking in Bethlehem, Connecticut, to perform William Shakespeare's Hamlet. On top of financial difficulties, the Caucasian Theatrical Company is in a state of panic since their Ophelia quit. Luckily, Elfie Fey, an ingenue who knows the role of Ophelia cold, introduces herself at just the right moment. Romance, murder, Shakespeare and hilarity ensue, all centered around a toilet. The story also featured the surly Carlton Stone, Sr., head of the Caucasian Theatrical Company and all around ham, his inexperienced son forced to take on the role of Hamlet, Stone Sr.'s adulterous wife and her practical jokester lover, and the mysterious play write stage manager.
The technical crew did an excellent job with the lighting and sound. The acting was superb. All the performers were comfortable in their demanding roles and were able to portray both the "off stage" and "on stage" personas. A special thanks is due the two accomplished actresses who came to us from our local public high school to play Elfie Fey and Mrs. Stone.
Spring Performances Enjoyed
The 2009 Spring Term Drama production was a double bill: Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, and Martin Epstein's How Gertrude Stormed the Philosopher's Club.
The action took place in the middle of the theater floor, with the audience seated around the sets, heightening the sense of intimacy. Stellar performances by the students easily followed the range of the material through poignant, dramatic, sarcastic, and playful. Audience members were shivering one minute and laughing the next and the actors seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. A special thanks to the actress from our local public high school who played Gertrude.
