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Whitcomb Wins Awards
At the Vermont State Drama Festival for one-act plays, Whitcomb High School’s drama group won awards for acting, set, and technical aspects. "Deliver Us Not! (or Birth, Where Is Thy Sting?)" was directed by music teacher Susan Rule, and is a comedy set in a womb, with glimpses of the delivery room in shadow play. Three fetuses, each with an oversized umbilical cord attached, debate the possibilities of life after birth, trying to come to terms with their impending due date. The fetuses were played by junior Hannah Thoenen, sophomore Meredith Kill and freshman Daniel Noel. In shadow, the audience saw sophomores Chris Allen, June Claughton and Peter Burgos playing the roles of doctor, nurse and father, respectively. The "techies" in charge of the heartbeats, cries after birth and shadow play of lights were senior Amber Horne and seventh graders Mariah Ertel and Teresa Claughton. Artistic director, Kep Taylor, designed the enormous womb, which was spectacular enough to elicit a collective gasp from the audience when the curtain opened. He was aided in set construction by Lisa Hill and the students. Tom Burgos and Jane Ertel chaperoned the students at the two-day event held at the St. Johnsbury Academy. Bethel was the only Division IV school to make it to the state festival. Their play elicited numerous laughs from the audience as the fetuses argued about life after birth, kicking at the womb, and eventually being sucked either head or bottom first into the cold world. A number of supporters from Bethel were in the audience, including Noel’s mother Susan Bolles, who said her son "had grown from the experience." The students all agreed that it had been fun and most thought that, despite the hard work, they would definitely do it again. "It’s been a great experience for all the students," said Rule, who has led Whitcomb past the regionals and to the states for the last three years. "I’m grateful for all of the support from the community. Kep’s artistic skills and imagination added so much to our play." At the festival, the students have just one hour to erect their sets, perform the play, dismantle sets and clear the stage. The competition aspect is downplayed and the students spend time asking questions, and giving positive feedback and constructive criticism to one another. The ten plays are interspersed with workshops and activities for students and adults. The last of the three drama festivals in this group, The New England Drama Festival, will be held at the Paramount Theater in Rutland April 17-19. Hartford and St. Johnsbury will represent Vermont at this festival. ____________ |
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