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LERON WELLINGTON
Staff Writer
What makes theater so amazing is its ability to tell so many different stories. Whether it is a tragic tale of love or a dramatic telling of real-life events, it captivates audiences and moves us all. But sometimes, we are presented with something so different but still just as magical.
When we hear the words “children’s theater,” we might not think much of it, but in the case of this weekend’s opening of “James and the Giant Peach,” it was just as captivating as any other piece of theater. This theatricalized version of the classic Roald Dahl book featured a strong ensemble cast whose energy made it enjoyable for both kids and adults.
The iconic story of a young boy who has a magical journey accompanied by a number of insects in a peach of enormous size was told with an array of theatrical elements. From a rotating stage to a variety of European dialects, the audience was able to see James’ colorful world and interact with actors along the way.
Sarah Moebius, a junior and musical theatre major, played the silkworm in the show and successfully incorporated her silks into her performance.
“This was my first Mainstage and I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” said Moebius. “Working with Ted [Sharon] has been so great and it’s been a blast working with all my peers. I loved getting to put the silks into the show. Once we were able to work in Bartlett, everything came together.”
Every character within the show had an accent or dialect. Senior Joanna Shapiro, an acting major, served as the voice and dialect coach for the show, helping the actors find their character with their voices.
“It was a hard challenge but the more we explored as a cast, the easier it was to find our voices. The environment we rehearsed in was freeing enough to explore without second thought. Through various character-building exercises, we created a unique ensemble that truly let the text fly off the page,” Shapiro said.
Since the show partially catered to children, movement was a huge part of the show. Actors constantly walked in and out of the theater and were never afraid to interact with audience members, regardless of their age. Watching children react to the show was an element that made the show even more enjoyable.
Senior and musical theater major David Rivera served as the assistant choreographer and helped the cast find new ways of using their bodies to help tell the story.
Rivera said, “We first tried to get the cast to work as an ensemble physically and then the actors’ characters came out from that. It was really cool to see it all come together in the end.”
What is so great about the production is that it is a product of different students’ work. The beautiful part about theater is that it is a collaboration of ideas from many people. Students were not only allowed to be actors, but also directors and coaches which are also incredibly important positions.
“I could not think of a more perfect way to end the year, than with a show where theater students are able to create and explore as much as they want,” Shapiro said. “The wonder of theater for a child’s sake is enough to motivate anyone. As an adult, we are taught to be proper and our imagination dies out. Through theater, that same imagination is brought back to life.”
It’s not too late to see this thrilling show. It will be performed in the Bartlett Theatre on April 28 to 30 at 7:30 p.m. and April 31 at 2 p.m.