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By Fiona Wozniak
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Oct. 16, 2003 |
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Over 1500 viewers attended the school production of Twelfth Night during its four-day run from March 27 to 30, according to drama teacher Teresa Bookwalter, who directed the play.
Many viewers attributed the play's success to a talented cast that created convincing interaction among characters.
Highlights of the play included the humorous scenes in which Olivia, played by senior Cirocco Dunlap flirted with Viola, played by senior Lesley Benedict, who was dressed as a man, according to freshman Michelle Gerigk.
"They had really good chemistry," Gerigk said.
"I wasn't prepared until Tuesday, the week of the performance," junior Drew Levitt, who played Sir Andrew Aguecheek said.
Students were still figuring out how to arrange sets and props onstage up to "about an hour before the first performance," Bookwalter said.
The set consisted of moveable architectural forms, designed to fit every scene in a different arrangement. Wedges that kept the pieces in place often came undone under the weight of actors walking through the doorway, according to freshman Ian Carr, who played an attendant. As a result, doorways and other pieces sometimes drifted across the stage.
"The show was a success, despite some accidents with the lighting and some technical difficulties," Carr said.
Friday's performance received an amazingly large crowd, according to freshman Jake Blanc, an extra in the play. "I was surprised at the turnout," he said.
The actors rehearsed four days a week from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the eight weeks before opening night.
Extensive practice time paid off. "Even though it seemed to take forever to get everything perfect, the crowd loved it, and we were all really proud," Blanc said.
Some members of the cast and technical crew competed the following weekend at Ohlone College against 800 students from 25 other Bay Area schools. Lowell brought home 19 awards, including one for the Twelfth Night poster design.
They won numerous first, second and third place awards for scenes and monologues.
The Theater Tech crew submitted the set featured in the play and won first place. Almost 800 students from 25 other Bay Area schools participated.
This is the fifth year Lowell has competed at the two-day festival. |
