Set in Mesalia, Ohio in the 1930s, The Man Who Came To Dinner acts as a commentary on the growing cultural split between the coastal and central parts of the United States. Written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, two members of the “Algonquin Round Table,” the show also models many of its characters after other famous members of the group. Sheridan Whiteside was based largely on Alexander Woollcott, Beverly Carlton is based on Nöel Coward, Banjo is based on Harpo Marx, and Lorraine Sheldon is modeled after Gertrude Lawrence.

The play begins with Sheridan Whiteside having fallen on the doorstep of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest W. Stanley. With a broken hip, he must remain immobile in his wheelchair. This, however, does not stop him from bossing around all that come near him. Soon enough, he has accumulated one octopus, four penguins, a cockroach farm, a mummy case, and garnered the hatred of his hosts. When it is revealed that he is not hurt after all, he decides to stay in Mesalia to keep his secretary from running off with a small town newspaper man. A comedy that unfolds wonderfully, Thomas Edison High School kept the audience laughing throughout the night with their rendition of this classic piece of American theater.

The show’s leading man Sheridan Whiteside (Nathan Vasquez) was strongly articulate and the antiquated language of the script was not lost in his long monologues or phone calls. He remained true to the 1930s speaking style that often accompanies the show. A standout of the night was Bert Jefferson (Matthew Kaufax). His easygoing nature and pleasantly pushy attitude made him a believable newspaper man and love interest. After staying out all night at a bar, his drunkenness was quite believable, and had the audience roaring. Another physicality that made the audience roar was Lorraine Sheldon’s (Parker Collins), as she fell to the ground and wailed that her cables had to be recalled. She portrayed a faithfully snobby, high-class actress. Harriet Stanley (Adrianna Watson), the estranged sister of Ernest Stanley was extraordinary. As she flitted on and off the stage with her sprite-like demeanor, it was clear that she had fully unlocked the potential of the fabulous writing of Hart and Kaufman.

The technical aspects of the play were superb. The set was highly detailed and sported real trim, molding, several doors, and a window seat. The set pieces were period appropriate, and the set also featured a working sconce and overhead lamp. Costumes were also detail oriented and highly extravagant. Details such as the matching wedding bands of the Mr. and Mrs. Stanley were lovely touches, and it was notable that for each different day, the characters had new costumes. One of the smallest yet most obvious examples of meticulous planning was the snow that could be seen falling through the window, and was seen on Jefferson’s jacket. It drew the audience farther into the world of the play.

A classic piece of theater was done justice at Thomas Edison High School, and their rendition made the audience feel “willing guests” at the production.

by Jeffrey Warren of Washington Lee High School

Photo Gallery

Kira Omans, Nathan Vasquez, Adrianna Watson	Nathan Vasquez, Kira Omans
Nathan Vasquez, Pedro Silva, Kira Omans	Nathan Vasquez, Parker Collins, Matthew Kaufax, Kira Omans

Photos by Bruce Wentzel

Oklahoma!, the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, is credited with being the model for the modern musical, incorporating both music and dance into the storyline. It opened on Broadway in 1943 and ran for 2,212 performances. Rodgers and Hammerstein received a Pulitzer Prize for this show in 1944. Film adaptations include the Gordon MacRae 1995 version and the Hugh Jackman 1999 version. The show takes place in the territory of Oklahoma in 1906. The story revolves around the cowboy Curly and his romance with the farm girl Laurey Williams. A side romance goes on with the cowboy Will Parker and flighty Ado Annie who has trouble saying no to men.

Both Curly (Purev Aslabaatar) and Laurey (Isabella Ness) handled iconic songs like “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” and “Many a New Day” with ease. Aslabaatar’s beautiful tone and powerful voice made his music very enjoyable. Ness’s lovely high soprano was perfectly suited to the character. Both performers had good chemistry and did a good job of not making the stage kisses awkward. These leads help anchor the show.

The leads were well backed by a good number of supporting performers. Will Parker (Harrison Riehle) brought great energy and character to the stage. He had great chemistry with Ado Annie and Ali Hakim and brought nice amounts of comedy to his scenes. Ado Annie (Juliette Cross) showed great comedic timing and charm, making the audience laugh with with all of her innocent flirting. Ali Hakim (Nathan Vasquez) brought great energy and character. He delivered his funny lines extremely well, and really nailed his “I won’t be tied down” character. Jud Fry (Brad Cooley) executed his dark character with a deep gravelly voice, feeling-less reactions, and even some extremely amusing lines.

One element of the show that stood out was props. Ali Hakim, a peddler, had his cart full of merchandise. The front opened to reveal jewelry displays, clothing racks opened from the side, and it even had a cute umbrella on the top. When opened, it made a poof sound adding a comedic touch to some of the peddler’s scenes. And what’s Oklahoma! without the surrey with the fringe on top? A full-sized working surrey complete with fringe was pulled on stage at the end of the show to take the happy couple away.

Some interesting special effects were used as well. Electronic screens were used as the background, sometimes displaying cornfields, a moon, or even a half-built barn. These backgrounds added to the feel of the scenes and made it easy to distinguish settings. Unfortunately, the backlight from the screens did light the scene changes, but the concept worked well.

Despite a few forgotten lines and lyrics, and a little lack of energy from some actors, the performers of Thomas Edison High School produced a fun and enjoyable production of Oklahoma! which you just “can’t say no” to.

by Madeleine Lucas of Oakcrest School

Photo Gallery

Purev Arslanbaatar (Curley), Maureen Iredell (Aunt Eller)	Purev Arslanbaatar (Curley), Isabella Ness (Laurey)
Brad Cooley (Jud Fry), Purev Arslanbaatar (Curley)	Harrison Riehle (Will Parker), Juliette Cross (Ado Annie)

Photos by Bruce Wentzel

The ability to tell the story while making the audience laugh was the bellwether of the show. The slightly different storyline was still told well and easy to follow the majority of the time. Whether it was the busy, gossip-filled marketplace or the rambunctious hangout of Gaston’s, the ensemble painted the scenes and made the audience see this. Several individual actors and actresses from both minor and major roles stood out.

The Beast (Robert Boyd) had good diction. Robert Boyd displayed the timid, lonely, and caring side of Beast very well and showed a believable adoration for Belle (Katherine Seidl). Katherine Seidl sang with spot-on pitch and articulation. Although some major characters struggled with pitch at times, they could pick up their character in the more dramatic scenes.

Many of the minor and supporting roles brought much of the energy in Beauty and the Beast. Many of the characters maintained French or British accents throughout the show in a mostly professional manner. Jonathan Schroeder played the role of Cogsworth excellently with a higher intonation and snooty accent, playing the role of the buzzkill rather well. Lumiere (Thomas Norman) was probably one of the most enjoyable to watch. His physicality matched his facial expressions and womanizing antics, making him a riot to watch. David Bourne played the narcissistic role of Gaston excellently. His singing voice was able to hit the lower notes. He could have played his character more manly, but his conceit and ability to make the audience believe he was a hunk. The Wolves (Peter An, Genesis Canicosa, Elcid Demonteverde, Dai Nguyendo, James Vinyoopongphan, Kevin To) brought the elements of fear in the production. Their physicality was not very wolf-like but was effective in creating suspense. The Old Woman (Cindy Tran) was hysterical. For having no lines at all, her facial expressions and actions made the audience laugh without fail.

The set (Johnathan Hernandez, Jason Zheng, Cecily Wynne, Jocelyn Griser) was minimal yet effective. It got across where the scene took place and provided smooth transitions for scene changes. The sound (Jocelyn Griser, Ally Ouellette, Samuel Glad) had its struggles, but the actors overcame these technical obstacles most of the time.

Overall, Thomas Edison High School put on an enjoyable show of Beauty and the Beast.

by Logan Beveridge of Mount Vernon High School

First produced in 1950, The Curious Savage is one of the early comedies of playwright and screenwriter John Patrick. In the clever comedy, a wealthy widow (Emily Wolfteich as Mrs. Ethel P. Savage) is placed in a mental institution by her own children after deciding to donate the entirety of her late husband’s money to charity. She befriends her fellow patients – a motley but lovable bunch – and together they attempt to outwit her three scheming children.

Wolfteich shone as the witty and slightly eccentric Ethel Savage. Despite a youthful appearance, she brought maturity and wit to the older character. “Man is, by nature, optimistic,” she quipped. “Otherwise, he’d eat his own young!” Wolfteich sarcastically delivered some of the most hilarious lines of the play, but also connected well enough with the other characters to create the show’s most poignant moments.

Sophia Sperling’s delightfully quirky Fairy May was a constant source of amusement. She remained completely dedicated to her zany character, no matter how ridiculous the situation. Sperling was joined by a plethora of equally hilarious characters, from violin-playing, night-fighting Hannibal (Paul Budge) to the selectively mute Mrs. Paddy (Anna Krause), who “gave up conversation for life and electricity for Lent.”

The show’s various ensembles worked well together, clearly illustrating their various relationships. Unfortunately, the play’s low-key comedy meant that several actors did not maintain high energy levels throughout the performance. This lack of energy, in addition to occasionally poor articulation, sometimes made it difficult to hear actors, despite hanging microphones.

From the crown molding to the unevenly worn carpet, the set (Will Glad) was detailed and well-constructed, and the slamming door allowed for increased comedic timing of entrances and exits. Jocelyn Griser’s lighting cues were simple yet effective, particularly during the show’s penultimate scene as a single spotlight shone on Mrs. Savage’s beloved teddy bear.

Despite an occasional lack of energy, Thomas Edison High School presented a very solid rendition of a classic comedy.

Elisabeth Bloxam of Westfield High School.

Fiddler on the Roof is based on the tales of Tevye and His Daughters written by Sholem Aleichem in 1894. The music for the musical was written by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book Joseph Stein. The original Broadway production opened in 1964 and was the longest running Broadway musical for nearly ten years, also winning nine Tony Awards. The play takes place in 1905 in the small village of Anatevka, Russia. It tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish milk man, and his family of women. The three oldest of Tevye’s five daughters are thinking about marriage and his forceful wife Golde is determined that each marry a prosperous man. However, each daughter has their own opinion about whom they want to marry, each choice more bold and daring than the last. Tevye must make difficult decisions. Will he stick to his traditions or will he conform to the changing times? And how will the village deal with the anti-Semitic feelings growing in Russia?

Edison’s production had a challenge to face trying to make a variety of characters seem credible. Blair Hicks did an exceptional job in his role of Tevye making each emotion clear, every line delivered with ease, and flawlessly revealing many different sides of his character. Isabella Ness as Hodel (Tevye’s daughter) and Justin Ahdoot as Perchik worked well together as did Kim Ness as Chava (another of Tevye’s daughters) and Thomas Norman as Fyedka. Isabella Ness, as Hodel, consistently displayed strong vocals which made the play all the more enjoyable. Although the Orchestra and actors were at times not quite together during some musical numbers, the pitches and harmonies were consistent.

A particularly notable character was Kit DiSalvo as Grandma Tzeitel. She clearly portrayed her role with a commanding presence and added a distinct personality to her character in her brief appearance. Ted Brady as the Constable also clearly had an innate understanding of his character and with his flawless accent he brought something unique to the scenes he was in.

The production’s stage crew was efficient, speedy, and faultless which made for a particularly enjoyable performance. Lighting design by Charlotte Bates and Ally Ouellette was successful and left none in the dark. It was timed precisely and effective in every instance with spotlights lighting the actors at appropriate moments.

Despite a few off beat musical numbers Edison’s production of Fiddler on the Roof was entertaining and captivating. A story full of pain, change, faith, and tradition is destined to leave a powerful impact on any audience.

by Mirva Johnson of T.C. Williams

They’re all in this together at Thomas Edison High School in their production of Disney’s High School Musical. This popular Disney musical features Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez as they attempt to break away from their stereotypical cliques at East High, competing against the ever-so popular Ryan and Sharpay Evans for the leads in the school musical Juliette and Romeo.

The production was led by Blair Hicks and Adrianna Monteagudo as Troy and Gabriella. The two had good stage presence, and had a sort of chemistry that increased throughout the performance. The true star, however, was Justin Ahdoot, as Ryan. Ahdoot kept the audience entertained with his hilarious dance moves and crazy attitude, captivating all attention whenever on stage.

The stage was decked out in a very spirited red and white basketball stadium, with various moveable pieces, allowing an easy (and believable) setting change. Even the auditorium was covered with posters for the “Wildcats” programs. The set design crew really knew how to show their East High School spirit.

Like a modern day Grease, Disney’s High School Musical truly portrays an everyday high school issue: cliques. Edison’s nearly well-cast company of jocks, thespians, “brainiacs” and skaters performed with only a few mishaps, and worked well despite the disintegrating sound system. Overall, Edison provides an enjoyable show very similar to the movie on Disney, perfect for all ages, allowing everyone a chance to get their heads in the game and show their Wildcat spirit.

Disney’s High School Musical will be performed next weekend, November 16th at 7:30PM and 17th at 2:00 and 7:30PM. Don’t miss it!

by Laura Peppe of George Mason

Daisy Mae and Lil Abner

Opening on November 15th, 1956 at the St. James Theatre on Broadway, Li’l Abner was adapted from the wildly popular comic strip by Al Capp. Winning a Tony Award for Choreography and Best Featured Actress in a Musical, this fluffy political satire takes place in Dogpatch, USA and follows the not-so-little Abner Yokum (Ben Ray) as he dives into government, society and marriage.

Leading the cast with brawny abandon, Ben Ray’s rural mannerisms and southern drawl were dead on as Li’l Abner. Ray depicted his robust character comfortably while fishing with the boys in “If I Had My Druthers” and showed consistent chemistry with Jennifer Jewell as the popular Daisy Mae Scragg. Jewell was enjoyable to watch and showed emotion in “Namely You” as she sang of her love for Abner. Ray and Jewell made for an adorable couple, and were convincing as they said their “I dos” in the last scene.

Fleagle

Christina Manzo and Justin Ahdoot commanded attention and earned gales of giggles as Mammy and Pappy Yokum. Ahdoot gallivanted about, using a riotous character voice and showed off an abundant source of comedic timing. Manzo played off Ahdoot hilariously as she scolded him, and the pair interacted with the ensemble beautifully, though at times they were difficult to understand. As the cheeky Evil Eye Fleagle, Nana Amoah, Jr. also received laughter with his over-the-top facial expressions and ludicrous antics. Amoah doubled as Tomboy and danced exuberantly into the hearts of audience members, never breaking character.

Lacking in class but never enthusiasm, the Dogpatchers filled the production with pizzazz throughout “Dogpatch Dance” and their buoyant energy was contagious. Begging and pleading for their much less attractive husbands, the Wives denied the well endowed hunks with cantankerous characterization in “Put Em Back The Way They Wuz.” And while some principal characters showed issues with pitch and diction, the ensemble made up for it in “Jubilation T. Cornpone” by singing with conviction and projecting above the talented Thomas Edison Orchestra, despite minor sound malfunctions.

the Wives

Colorful and country costumes lit up the stage. Elise Glad, Ally Foreman and Christina Manzo designed a splendiferous money scarf and added plaid patches to overalls to complete the provincial ambiance “Li’l Abner” possesses. Matching the splashy dresses, actresses donned large flowers in their comical hair-dos and cheerful make-up (Amanda Wessell). Andrew O’Neal‘s set kept up the colorful atmosphere by using a picturesque backdrop and cartoon-like Jubilation T. Cornpone statue.

With no need for high-falutin’ frills or the broadening of horizons, the hillbillies from Thomas Edison High School take an unnecessary town and turn it into 500lbs of fun. Just remember boys, stay away from Mammy’s Yokumberry Tonic!

by Taylor Hart of Homeschool ITS

This review was written by a Cappies high school critic. The Cappies were founded in 1999, for the purpose of celebrating high school theater arts and providing a learning opportunity for theater and journalism students. You can learn more at cappies.com.