In the darkened theater of Ace Morgan Theater, I sat in anticipation while 1940’s jazz music began to play. The lights went up on stage to reveal the home of Stella and Stanley Kowalski set in the bustling French Quarter of New Orleans (starring Chris Morriss as Stanley, Maddie Johnston as Stella and the infamous role of Stella’s sister, Blanche Du Bois was played by Vanessa Theus). From curtain to curtain, the audience was enthralled, gasping and laughing at all the right moments, (I nearly cried along with Blanche in the final scenes) until the lights came back up and the crowd stood in applause.
The play was adopted by Tennessee Williams and directed here on our own stage by assistant professor Mark Seamon, stage design by senior Laura Hoffman, costumes and lighting by Associate professors Cynthia Turnbull and Peter Pauzé, as well as seniors Elyse Dolan on sound and Amanda DiMartini with hair and makeup. Knowing almost nothing about the show before going opening night, other than what I had put together from my friends on the running crew, I was completely blown away by the talent of the actors- the scenes in particular between Morriss and Theus were enough to make the entire audience still as statues, waiting with baited breath for whatever came next. Every detail was neither over nor underemphasized and the vivid emotional struggles of the characters were almost tangible, like we were watching someones’ life rather than a college theater performance.
I saw the show with my roommate who helped build the set, (who did not appreciate one actors clumsy exit offstage where he ran into a wall), and we waited anxiously afterwards to congratulate the cast, as well as our third roommate, Emily Wright, who had the stressful job of Stage Manager. Upon talking to junior Chris Morriss after the show, it is hard to believe this genuinely nice guy could play such a convincing womanizer and drunkard on stage, or that someone like Vanessa or Maddie could have the strength for such emotional performances every night (they were still crying long after their curtain call, being so invested in the role it was hard to stop).
The Denison theater department is brimming with talent and always puts all their efforts every time to produce a great show. So in a few weeks, when the next show (directed by Peter Pauzé), Theaters of War opens, reserve tickets right away- especially since they are free for students and many people in Granville also attend the performances. Another show well done!