50p
Brentwood Acts Up to Expectations
The Senior Acting Play “Up the Down Staircase” kicked off in tremendous fashion on Opening Night this past Wednesday. Walking into the theatre, faced with the professional looking black and white pictures of each actor on the board in the lobby, you could sense that this was going to be a great show. The Killy Theatre was buzzing with excitement as the curtain rose, then quickly hushed as spectators became engrossed in the action on stage.
Valsy B played an outstanding role as Miss Sylvia Barrett, and was partnered with an equally fabulous performance by Hut C as rebellious Joe Ferone, a boy constantly in trouble for, among other things, travelling up the school’s ‘down’ staircase. Always the first to keep Joe in line was Mr. J. J. McCabe, the dean of discipline, played by a lively and authoritative Ula? Z.
Paul Barringer, a fellow teacher at the school, was the larger of Calvin S’s two roles (he also played as Dr. Maxwell Clarke, the school’s principal) and he was the most dynamic of the characters featured in the production. Going from outright emotional avoidance of the children he taught, he is influenced by Sylvia Barrett’s love and passion for her students, although not before making a grave mistake when dealing with infatuated student Alice Blake, played by Carolina M.
Esmé S gave a moving performance as Ellen, Sylvia’s best friend from home, offering words of advice when Sylvia found herself in despair. Esmé was full of compassion in her second role as Frances Egan, the school nurse who has lost the right to help the students at the school other than to offer them tea and a listening ear. Calvin H also featured in a double role, playing both brilliant English Department Head Samuel Bester as well as Edward Williams, a sullen student who only wants Miss Barrett to notice his presence.
Nyla ND, Jordan C, Shalev S, Austin G, Emma DP, Addison P, James C, Angie K, Hezron R and Geraldine O filled out the motley crew of students inside Miss Barrett’s classroom, which was only made manageable through a very supportive and realistic experienced teacher, Beatrice Shachter, played by London F. Morgan W & Kendra S played note runners and Kendra S also performed as guidance counselor Mrs. Friedenberg, who is very comfortable with a large vocabulary.
The play was a huge success, dramatizing the real lives of students who are faced with tough home lives and life decisions such as dropping out of school to help their families pay the rent. The Senior Acting class should be proud of what it has accomplished this year.
Special thanks to Mrs. Quinton for directing the play, and Mr. Armitage for organizing the theatre production and back stage work.
Sam D, Allard ’13
Valsy B played an outstanding role as Miss Sylvia Barrett, and was partnered with an equally fabulous performance by Hut C as rebellious Joe Ferone, a boy constantly in trouble for, among other things, travelling up the school’s ‘down’ staircase. Always the first to keep Joe in line was Mr. J. J. McCabe, the dean of discipline, played by a lively and authoritative Ula? Z.
Paul Barringer, a fellow teacher at the school, was the larger of Calvin S’s two roles (he also played as Dr. Maxwell Clarke, the school’s principal) and he was the most dynamic of the characters featured in the production. Going from outright emotional avoidance of the children he taught, he is influenced by Sylvia Barrett’s love and passion for her students, although not before making a grave mistake when dealing with infatuated student Alice Blake, played by Carolina M.
Esmé S gave a moving performance as Ellen, Sylvia’s best friend from home, offering words of advice when Sylvia found herself in despair. Esmé was full of compassion in her second role as Frances Egan, the school nurse who has lost the right to help the students at the school other than to offer them tea and a listening ear. Calvin H also featured in a double role, playing both brilliant English Department Head Samuel Bester as well as Edward Williams, a sullen student who only wants Miss Barrett to notice his presence.
Nyla ND, Jordan C, Shalev S, Austin G, Emma DP, Addison P, James C, Angie K, Hezron R and Geraldine O filled out the motley crew of students inside Miss Barrett’s classroom, which was only made manageable through a very supportive and realistic experienced teacher, Beatrice Shachter, played by London F. Morgan W & Kendra S played note runners and Kendra S also performed as guidance counselor Mrs. Friedenberg, who is very comfortable with a large vocabulary.
The play was a huge success, dramatizing the real lives of students who are faced with tough home lives and life decisions such as dropping out of school to help their families pay the rent. The Senior Acting class should be proud of what it has accomplished this year.
Special thanks to Mrs. Quinton for directing the play, and Mr. Armitage for organizing the theatre production and back stage work.
Sam D, Allard ’13
75p
