This past Friday, our very own Theatre Department put on, not one, but two productions of The Actor’s Nightmare, a magical blend of anxiety, humor, and Shakespeare.
First off, it needs to be mentioned that those involved with this play, from the technical crew to the actors, dedicated their precious summertime hours to making this a reality. They were able to illustrate to us non-actors what actors fear most: “walk[ing] on stage with no idea what to say or what to do.”[1]
Waiting for the play to begin, I was worried about how little scenery there was; but I was pleasantly surprised with how great of an effect it had. When the script and actors are that good, scenery just isn’t necessary. And I must give kudos to the Light Board Operator, Robyn Couch, and lead actor, Michael Rowe, who were able to convey the dreaded feeling of declaiming an unknown Shakespearean soliloquy; a simple spotlight became the arch enemy of main character, George Spelvin.
I also found the content of his soliloquy quite amusing, due to the inclusion of material from several Shakespearean plays, the pledge of allegiance, the ABC’s, and George Spelvin’s own life.
The creatively unprofessional character of Meg, played by Catie Beck, introduced a lighter comical feel, while still portraying what could actually happen on stage. Nikki Tran, as Ellen, represented the literal actor, the one who recites the whole script, including the stage directions. Alexandria Capuano brought much appreciated humor to the execution scene through her part as a high-voiced executioner, and a Shakespearean character. Last, but certainly not least, Chelsea Harvey, as Sarah, was the seasoned actress who does not enjoy looking like a fool on stage.
Through gritted teeth and charades, she repeated line after line over and over again until George caught on and said his lines. Animated facial expressions and outlandish gestures clearly suggested her frustration and anger.
The Actor’s Nightmare was a pleasure to attend, which kept the entire audience laughing (to the point of crying) the whole way through. These actors and everyone involved in the FVHS Theatre Department are truly skilled and putting their talents to great use!
Be sure to check out www.fvhstheatre.com for tickets and news about the FVHS Theatre Department. Upcoming productions include The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (December 7th-10th) and Almost, Maine (January 11th-14th). These are not to be missed!
[1] Quoted from Director Robert Zick, Jr. in The Actor’s Nightmare playbill.
