Bear Creek - The Bear Creek School

Current
June 5, 2008
an ideal husband
by Abby Gomulkiewicz
Contributing Writer
The curtain goes down. The applause begins. As the actors reappear and
take their bows the applause grows louder. Finally, the cheering ceases, people
are thanked and the actors once again become students of The Bear Creek
School. These enjoyable performances provide entertainment but entertainment,
takes work. Many hours of line memorization, block acting, costume fittings,
and set building goes into each of these performances.
The spring play put on by the upper school drama department was An
Ideal Husband, directed by Dr. Ron Lynch. Set within Victorian England, this
lively play involved blackmail, romance and comedy. The play is centered on
Sir Robert Chiltern and his morally firm wife Gertrude. Together they embark
on a journey of betrayal, and eventually, forgiveness.
This witty play was written by Oscar Wilde. During the 19th century,
the “upper crust” of society’s lives revolved around endless parties, luncheons
and strolls through the park. Women and men constantly flirted and gossiped.
Bear Creek students helped the audience journey back to the days of flowery
hats, lacy silken dresses, button-holes, tuxedoes and high heeled shoes. The
journey was helped by the beautiful set constructed by Jess Wetter and Dr. and
Mrs. Lynch. The oak wood paneling, live piano and fireplaces all added to the
proper houses of the well to do.
The costumes were one of the most fun aspects of the play. Besides
their beauty, a costume helps provide the audience with a visual look into
understanding a certain character and his or her position in society. This was
the case for the extravagant bachelor Lord Goring who wore a shiny, silver
suit and a floral button-hole. The costume of the villain, Mrs. Cheveley, was
beautiful with purple silk and blackened fringe. This costume helped narrate
the beauty, yet mysteriousness behind the character of Mrs. Cheveley.
The women wore gowns of silk, satin and lace in colors of lavender,
blue and pink. They also wore Victorian style white and black shoes as well
as bonnets with ornate flowers perched on top of them. The men wore suits,
bow ties, flowers and high topped Victorian boots. Every single costume and
prop was created or given with care to help the drama department in their
production by mothers, friends and even grandmothers.
The students worked hard to make the play successful. Everyone had to
perfect a British accent as well as the quick and often dry British humor. All
of the girls were double cast so each only acted in two of the four productions.
This meant that throughout rehearsals they had to work extra hard when it was
their time on the stage. Each cast brought their own unique and fun feel to the
parts, which resulted in each of the plays being a little different and exciting.
After the spring performance, many of the actors and actresses experienced
both joy and tears because this was the final show for the seniors. The guidance
and care that the seniors showed to the lower classmen helped strengthen the
drama department and create many fun memories. The members of next year’s
drama department are excited to continue to walk in their footsteps, eventually
leaving their own footprints along the corridor of Bear Creek production.
As the curtain falls on yet another school year finished, think about
attending the drama department’s plays next year. The actors are excited to
make their own paths and will appreciate your enthusiasm. The plays put on
by the drama department, including An Ideal Husband, are hard work, yet fun
and exciting.
ArOund SchOOl
is found at Bear Creek in four drama performances
a final boW Before their final performance, the senior drama members gather
with Dr.Lynch to reflect on years of amazing memories and productions.
SharinG a TenDer MoMenT Seniors Morgan Bader (Lord Goring) and
Carolyn Heine (Miss Mabel Chiltern) express love during a performance of An
Ideal Husband. Both have been in the drama program since Middle School.
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several actors memorized over lines
over Victorian pairs of shoes were bought
flowery and feathered hats were worn
whole packages of bobby pins and hat pins used
boxes of Band-Aids secured microphones