Although over 40 students were part of the winter musical ‘Hairspray,’ nine thespians chose to take part in another theatrical performance.
Don Tyler directed “Love and Information,” which was performed in the Will Parker ‘04 Black Box Theater on February 26, 27, and 28.
“Love and Information” is a unique play that does not follow a traditional plot line. This show by Caryl Churchill is made up of many mini-plots that reflect how people digest the information that they constantly receive.
The various characters, which change each scene, try to understand and comprehend each other and the information that they receive. The play and its ever-changing scenarios leave the audience wondering what comes next in each and gives them a taste of a wide variety of situations, many involving love.
The cast was made up of all ages and included: Hannah McGuire ‘18, Lulu Russell ’17, Boo Graham ’16, Nathalie Cavallo ‘16, Austin Franklin ’16, Kristiana Sotiriou ‘15, Matthew McFaul ‘15, Hye Rin Joo ’15, Derek Huang ‘15, with guest appearances from Hope Hastings ’15 and Connor West ’15. May Xia ’17 was the show’s lighting designer.
The unusual format of the play presented a new and exciting acting challenge for the cast. It was senior Matthew McFaul’s first time taking part in the winter drama. Having done the musical the year before, McFaul had acted but never in a play like “Love and Information” or in the Black Box.
Like all of the actors, McFaul played many different characters.
“I enjoyed the challenge of establishing a character in such a short amount of time and trying to make the 11 characters I played vary as much as possible,” said McFaul. This type of play was new for the audience as well.
“I really liked the play choice,” says McFaul. “It’s very outside the box from what Tabor usually does.” The community has been used to seeing small-scale plot-oriented plays in the Black Box Theater. “I liked that some people were confused after, because it left them thinking,” says McFaul of the audience’s reaction to the show.
Meanwhile, the cast of one of the fall drama performances, “The Secret in the Wings,” is currently in England on the exchange trip that occurs with Ellesmere College. This exchange began 20 years ago and has become a tradition for the Tabor Academy Drama Department.
Mr. Richard Van Voris directed the cast, who began their trip in Dublin and will be performing their show in various locations.
Samantha Chan ’15, the show’s choreographer, and William Walker ’15, the lighting designer, both are a part of the cast in addition to their behind-the-scenes roles. Eleven other students are a part of the cast: Jackson Burke ’17, Duhita Das ’17, Lucy Saltonstall ’17, Lauren Ehrreich ’16, Khalida Williams ’16, Kristen Burke ’15, Alexa Cole ’15, Derek Huang ’15, Logan Russell ’15, Hodge Stillwell ’15, and Emily Toltz ’15.
There will not be another traditional play this spring; however, students will be given the opportunity to direct their peers in one-act plays. A series of these plays will be performed in the spring and are created entirely by students.
By Julia O’Rourke
