The stage is set, actors bustling behind the thick velvet curtains, a spotlight flickers on and reveals Jasper Mann, Braeden Kochi, and Michael Romero–the stage managers of Theatre Company. Before we know it, the show has begun.
If you got to see ERHS’s performance of S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, you already know about its stellar acting, gorgeous backdrops, and impeccable production quality. Last weekend, the Theatre Company showcased what they’ve been working on for the past five months, and it was an emotional journey to watch. If you weren't able to catch the show, here’s what you missed…
In “The Outsiders”, we follow Ponyboy Curtis (Lily Goldsmith), a “greaser” in the 60’s, living with his two older brothers, Sodapop Curtis (Callum Blank) and Darry Curtis (Bella Lopez) after the death of their parents. Poverty has pushed them to the outskirts of society and onto the violent streets of Oklahoma. After a short en-media-res moment, the show opens to a scene of Ponyboy learning the hard way that he must stick with his gang to avoid getting picked off by the affluent–but violent– “socs”. The show is full of excitement, tragedy, suspense, and is topped off with a lasting moral–that people are more similar than we think, and to always “stay gold”, as Johnny Cade (Cooper Snedden) says.
Beginning with the performances, Ivy Klein delivers a refreshingly nuanced take on Cherry Valance–a soc who may not be so different from her greaser counterparts. Her message of unity and shared struggle is compelling but not without flaw–which only makes the character more believable and realistic. Anabella Caudillo similarly delivers a power house performance with Dallas Winston–the loudmouth greaser with a death wish but a heart of gold. Caudillo’s final moments on stage are some of her most powerful, undoubtedly making several members of the audience quite emotional. And how can one forget the beautiful, vulnerable take on Johnny Cade by Cooper Snedden. Snedden offers a palpable sweetness to the role that is undeniably endearing and at his best moments–emotionally devastating.
This review however would be incomplete without a moment to appreciate the brilliance of actress Lily Goldsmith and her portrayal of lead, Ponyboy Curtis. Goldsmith is a true artist with her ability to completely embody the character of Ponyboy with such immersive believability. She delivers monologues worth of lines in every scene. The charming naivete, hardened exterior, yet deep, detectable sadness are all present in Goldsmith’s performance and together bring new life into such a beloved literary character.
While the actors did an incredible job portraying the intense emotion of this play, the stage crew also deserves recognition. Of course, the whole show was directed by none other than Ms. Kissam–our beloved theatre teacher–along with technical director James Young. Not to mention the tireless efforts of the Sound, Art, Lighting, and Construction Crews that help the stage come alive.
Each crew put so much invaluable effort into making this play really come to life on stage. Period-accurate costuming and music sets the scene immediately, the minimalist yet effective sets flow seamlessly on and off stage, and the “stay gold” scene couldn’t be complete without the stream of yellow light grazing the actors on stage. If this reviewer had one critique–Johnny Cade’s trademark scars might have been too subtle and didn’t quite register to the wider audience. However, that made the play no less enjoyable! So much more goes into a play than just the people on stage, like props, set design, stage managers, sound, lighting, costumes, and ticket selling that the importance of the combined efforts of all these departments cannot ever be overstated.
The Eagle’s Scream was able to talk to stage manager Jasper Mann to gain insights into the process of putting on a production such as this. Mann told us that his job requires him to be a sort of “vessel for communication” between the director and cast, he keeps people on time and on task–making sure things are moving forward and the work is getting done. Managing all of these people is no easy task and Mann explains that it is primarily a matter of emotional labor. Along with his official duties, he works to maintain a sense of safety, security, and trust between the entire company. On top of this, the company has seen some major turnover with the exodus of the 2024 graduating class, requiring many members to learn new skills to maintain the expected quality of these shows. Mann describes this though, as a “bonding experience”--uniting both cast and crew.
This show was full of triumphs on and off stage. The cast and crew are bursting with talented, hardworking stars-in-the-making. This was on full display as the entire company can claim absolute success regarding their first dramatic play in years. Many described the more emotionally complex material as a means to really flex their creative muscles and sink their teeth into the nuances of their roles, so to speak.
As a final message, Mann told us that he was incredibly proud of the show they were able to put on and the perseverance and dedication of both cast and crew.
“Beautiful show, XOXO Gossip Girl.” - Jasper Mann
As an actor in a production like this, the experience can be thrilling and exhausting. But don’t take my word for it, here’s an exclusive quote from a character in this production:
“The lead-up to the show was pretty extreme because the week before the show, [we went] to theatre every day until 6:00. But [that was] really important because we were able to perfect the play and it turned out really well. I love talking with all the other crew members; it was really fun.” -Milo Hossain, Boy in Church Fire
As someone who’s been in many plays, I can attest to how hard it is to put a show like this together. But in my opinion, the cast and crew did an incredible job on this production. While some parts of it were a bit slow-paced, there was definitely some moving dialogue that makes one question the structure of our society. Overall, I would definitely watch it again, and I can’t wait to see what the theatre department puts together next.
