Ashland Plays: To See or Not to See?

Photo Credit: photo from www.osfashland.org

May 3, 2010

Alisha Azevedo, Managing Editor  

Filed under News

“There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” With a line from Hamlet scrawled across this year’s shirts, about 40 girls piled into a bus on Friday, April 23 bound for Ashland, Oregon. The annual Ashland trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival provided the chance to make new friendships, see excellent acting and productions, and enjoy some small-town charm. Four plays, four days.

After an eight-hour bus ride with Kevin, the bus driver, cracking a series of jokes, the party arrived at the Stratford Inn. After a group dinner at the Great American Pizza Company, the evening held the first performance at the Angus Bowmer Theatre. A prologue discussion gave some background information about the play, allowing the viewers to have a greater understanding of the characters while watching. The version of Hamlet directed by Bill Rausch featured a new spin on the script, setting the play in the modern day. A deaf actor, Howie Seago, played Hamlet’s father; thus, the ghost’s message was delivered in American Sign Language. The traveling players who visit the palace adopted a hip-hop version of Shakespeare’s song lyrics, with a surprisingly impressive performance. Seeing a rap performed in iambic pentameter was a new experience to watch in a Shakespeare play. Hamlet himself, played by Dan Donohue, delivered a haunting performance filled with passion. After this production the exhausted Ashlanders collapsed into bed, ready for the events of the next day.

The following morning, Mr. Schmuck led a group of students on a hike through Lithia Park. Ashland is famous for its Lithia water, believed to have healing powers. The park itself offers winding hiking trails that go on for miles. After breakfast, the group had a discussion with actor David DeSantos, who played Laertes in Hamlet. He discussed his struggle to make a living as an actor, waiting tables for years before landing a spot in the Oregon Shakespeare Company. His insights allowed for a closer look into the lives of stage actors.

After some free time around the town, the group assembled for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. This play was judged one of the group favorites; Michael Winters, famous for his role as Taylor in Gilmore Girls, delivered an excellent performance as Big Daddy. Stephanie Beatriz and Danforth Comins pulled the audience into the mendacious world of Maggie and Brick, trapped in a loveless marriage.

A preview later that evening briefed the group on the Civil War in the Congo in preparation for a modern play, Ruined. The play highlighted the struggles of women prostitutes struggling for their lives amid widespread violence and sexual assault. The play’s popularity allowed its extension for eight seasons in Ashland, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2009. Its examination of social justice issues on a personal level brought home the lessons learned in social justice class at Pres.

On Sunday morning, the group took a peek behind the curtains by going on a backstage tour of the August Bowmer Theatre, New Theatre, and Elizabethan Stage. Jeffrey King, who played Claudius in Hamlet, gave insights on the history of Ashland and how the actors and tech crews communicate their stage cues behind the scenes.

Finally, the group trooped into the theater for the highly-anticipated performance of Pride and Prejudice. Though the play lacked the beautiful visual scenery present in the movie, the theatre version nevertheless drew the audience into the neuroticism of Mrs. Bennet and the mystery of Mr. Darcy. The stage version also added some more humor to the script, as Darcy and Elizabeth experienced a series of awkward moments before finally declaring their love. That night, the group celebrated with a dinner at Standing Stone Brewing Company.

The bus ride home on Monday was filled with the foreboding of make-up work and the necessity of returning to reality after three marvelous days immersed in theater. However, the stage awaits the Presentation travelers in the years to come.

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Tags: alisha azevedo, ashland, ashland trip, cat on a hot tin roof, hamlet, oregon, pride and prejudice, ruined