St. Mark Excessive College’s manufacturing of Virtually, Maine was charmed with heart-wrenching moments, awe, and comedic vigour, all whereas depicting the influence love has – even within the smallest of cities.
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Present #2
St. Mark Excessive College
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Title: Virtually, Maine
Administrators: Erin Hand & Trevor Rostek
Claire Grasp, Critic
Elmwood College
How sturdy is the ability of affection? Can it crush the determined, bind the surprising, or illuminate all of the lights within the sky? From the joy of recent like to experiencing the supernatural, St. Mark Excessive College’s manufacturing of Virtually, Maine was charmed with heart-wrenching moments, awe, and comedic vigour, all whereas depicting the influence love has – even within the smallest of cities.
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Written by John Cariani and launched in 2004, this romantic-comedy play has been a staple in highschool productions throughout North America. The story takes place within the tiny city of Virtually, Maine. Accompanied by snow-blanketed timber and the spectacle of the Northern Lights, two acts characteristic 9 {couples} who expertise the ever-changing fragility of affection and present how various outcomes change the characters’ lives.
The play’s lighting, designed and cued by Alyssa Sandercott and Grace Woolley, depicted the city’s Northern Lights. With 62 lighting cues, blends of colored gentle and golden silhouettes recommended the setting’s atmosphere and innate serenity. Within the scene, “The place It Went”, color blocking was used to divide the stage into two sides throughout Phil and Marci’s feud. Whereas pink and blue hues recommended “cold and warm” sentiments, in addition they symbolized the characters’ love amongst anger as they continuously switched sides of the stage. In moments the place the {couples} would notice a deep connection, lighting modifications symbolized love’s unpredictable factor, which emphasised this recurring theme.
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In every of the tales, the forged embodied love’s sturdy, tender, and infrequently complicated emotions – one thing particularly tough when conveying an emotional theme. Reese-Cora Brazier introduced a fascinating efficiency because the character of Marci. As Marci’s emotions transition from optimism to unleashing a hid anger in the direction of her marriage, Brazier’s peppy aura advanced into considered one of intense impatience. Billy Wooton, who performed Phil, totally instilled the character’s anger with projected bodily actions and a commanding tone. Ainsley Hull splendidly portrayed Gayle’s anticipation to “get her love again”, suggesting agitation and unrest all through the efficiency. Total, the forged did nice in depicting the characters’ emotions and recognizing every scene’s emotional improvement.
By way of utilizing the entire area on the stage, Rhonda (Reese-Cora Brazier) and Dave (Billy Wooton), demonstrated a playful dynamic whereas enacting the comedic scene, “Seeing The Factor”. Brazier and Wooton’s charismatic but expressive stage presence emphasised their connection within the story. Notably, Dave’s gentleness towards Rhonda’s strong persona shone in narrating the course of their relationship. The usage of exaggerated physique language, particularly when Dave was “tricking” the portray, amusingly mirrored these traits.
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Costumes by Irene Leduc recommended the “small city” really feel via winter jackets and plaid sweaters. Units have been created by Shona Could and Keira O’Hara. By utilizing polyfill stuffing for snow on the ground and on the timber, it was simply rearranged between scenes, and gave a tactual factor to the set. Many set items have been additionally versatile for clean scene modifications, such because the restaurant that doubled as a laundry room. Props have been carried out by Shona Could and Elisa Pay. The bag that contained Glory’s “damaged coronary heart” had each a visible and audible perform within the story. Consisting of heart-shaped balloons, Gayle’s “baggage of affection” have been strikingly eye-catching.
St. Mark Excessive College’s manufacturing of Virtually, Maine was each a touching and memorable efficiency. By way of the expressive forged, organized manufacturing, and breathtaking settings, the tales of those small-town {couples} are really ones to recollect.
Maeve Ludmer, Critic
St. Pius X Excessive College
Love and all of its trappings will be delicate and tough, however St. Mark Excessive College’s manufacturing of John Cariani’s small city romcom Virtually, Maine tackled romance in its many varieties with creativity and humour.
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Virtually, Maine is a compilation of numerous love tales exhibiting the complexity of relationships. In a small city on the border of Maine, the story follows the lives of among the city’s residents as they navigate the intricate nature of affection. A number of pairs of townsfolk take care of themes akin to grief and therapeutic, transferring on, leaps of religion, love between buddies, heartbreak, beginnings and endings. Though every story is separate, it turns into clear that they’re related as they unfold, giving a way that every particular person in Virtually, Maine is one way or the other integral to one another’s lives.
This distinctive manufacturing created a small city environment that gave a way of being contained throughout the protected confines of a wintery snow globe. The feelings portrayed by the actors have been palpable from starting to finish because the characters have been dropped at life and shared tales coping with the guts’s innermost workings.
Whereas the manufacturing of Virtually,Maine had no lead actors, there have been definitely a pair that stood out from the remainder. Billy Wooton gave spectacular performances as a number of characters all through the manufacturing. Particularly, Wooton’s portrayal of each Phil and Dave confirmed the actor’s vary and skill to provide life and distinctive personalities to 2 very completely different characters. Wooton channelled Phil’s resentment and apathy in the direction of his spouse, in addition to Dave’s candy and keen nature. One other notable efficiency was given by Reese-Cora Brazier as Marci. Brazier was capable of convey Marci’s anger and bitterness with regard to the neglect dealt out by Marci’s accomplice.
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The well-rounded forged consisted of many gifted actors, with particular mentions going to Teddy Prevost-Doughty as Steve and the ensemble of Rachel Fulton as Deena and Ellie Diamantini as Shelly. Prevost-Doughty’s characterization of Teddy’s clueless innocence lent an air of lighthearted enjoyable to the manufacturing. Fulton and Diamantini really captured the essence of Deena and Shelly’s friendship and budding romance. The pair’s mastery of bodily comedy and impeccable timing completely complemented the evolution of their relationship.
The impeccable set design was image excellent because the city of Virtually, Maine. Transferring set items created a simple circulation from scene-to-scene making for clean transitions introducing every new couple. The lighting added to the environment because the design managed to create a wide ranging rendition of the Northern Lights. Though cleverly used all through all the present, there was a specific scene the place the lights appeared much more strategically thought out. Throughout a heated argument between two characters, the stage was cut up in half. One aspect flooded in pink gentle and the opposite in blue. This helped set the tone of that specific second within the scene and added to its depth.
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The St. Mark Excessive College manufacturing of Virtually,Maine was an satisfying rom-com from begin to end. It explored the highs and lows of affection in addition to the marvel of human nature that makes the world go spherical.
Josh Neubauer, Critic
St. Pius X Excessive College
It’s a wintry night time within the tight-knit, small city of Virtually, Maine. Regardless of the city being pretty unremarkable, there are a lot of sophisticated relationships inside it. St. Mark Excessive College’s fascinating rendition of Virtually, Maine stripped again and explored the various layers of the attractive and ugly sides of affection, in addition to how it may be candy or sorrowful.
The plot of Virtually, Maine doesn’t deal with a particular relationship or particular individuals, however slightly, it examines a collection of relationships and the way they’re altering – whether or not for higher or for worse. All through the play, the residents of Virtually are subjected to an array of feelings and conditions – some magical and a few melancholic. Over the course of the play, the ability of affection and the chokehold it may have on an individual are portrayed in quite a lot of artistic methods by the scholars at St. Mark Excessive College.
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Despite being assigned with the fatiguing job of taking part in three separate characters who have been very completely different from one another, Reese-Cora Brazier was capable of execute all three roles flawlessly with an enormous vary of facial expressions, tones of voice, and physique language. When Brazier was on stage with fellow actor Billy Wooton, who additionally performed three roles within the play, there was an plain stage presence that would solely be described as mesmerizing. This was particularly evident whereas Brazier and Wooton have been taking part in the elements of Rhonda and Dave – two buddies who’ve hidden emotions for one another. This highly effective scene is barely made highly effective due to the awkward, but romantic, demeanors that Brazier and Wooton have been capable of seamlessly change between and painting all through the scene.
Though solely appearing in a single scene, Grace Shearer was in a position so as to add a glimmer of sunshine throughout among the darker moments of the play. With a smiley and energetic portrayal of Villian, a waitress at a bar in Virtually, Shearer lightened the temper and was in a position so as to add a contact of comedy to a narrative that would in any other case be gloomy and heartbreaking. Whereas Jimmy (performed by Markos Habib) is at his lowest due to Sandrine (performed by Victoria Barfoot) getting married to another person, Shearer’s Villian is ready to cheer him up and put a smile on his face, due to this fact including a little bit of happiness to a scene that’s in any other case darkish.
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The lighting all through the play was nothing wanting spectacular. Throughout among the most magical moments crammed with love and ecstasy, there have been at all times shimmering blue and inexperienced lights to signify the Northern Lights which can be a giant a part of Virtually, Maine. These particular moments wouldn’t have been even practically as passionate with out the exhausting work of the lighting crew, who used 62 lighting cues to make all of it occur. Along with the spectacular lighting, the units have been completely beautiful in each scene. Between an intricate bar set on wheels and cotton ball-covered timber, the set designers actually have been capable of do all of it. The units utterly modified the temper of each scene, however have been nonetheless capable of preserve the general wintry id of the play.
The St. Mark Excessive College manufacturing of Virtually, Maine completely embodied the primary theme of affection. With sensational appearing, magnificent lighting, and breathtaking units, St. Mark Excessive College was capable of flawlessly convey the magical vitality of Virtually, Maine with all of their exhausting work!
Madison Sonnenburg, Lead Critic
Almonte and District Excessive College
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Love and its phases join everybody. The forged and crew of St. Mark Excessive College’s Virtually, Maine, a present crammed with love, ardour, and connections, demonstrated the significance of celebrating this truth. The performers and crew labored diligently to show this fascinating assortment of tales and did a improbable job in doing so.
Virtually, Maine is a collection of 9 quick performs that are all about love. The play, written by John Cariani, takes place within the fictitious city of Virtually – a small municipality within the northernmost a part of Maine. The city is so small that everyone is aware of one another, connecting all of the characters to one another. Every play options two characters at varied phases of affection, and because the Northern Lights seem, love takes its closing type for the {couples}.
Dedication and confidence from every actor and members of the crew allowed this present to flourish. All people labored cohesively, sustaining vitality, and using all sources in an environment friendly and tasteful manner.
Each actor displayed a radical understanding of the characters and the supposed feelings. Whether or not taking part in a number of roles, or a single function, every particular person created a transferring and engaging scene throughout each second of stage time. Billy Wooton and Reese-Cora Brazier performed three characters in a row and portrayed every of them in a novel and alluring trend. Their capabilities stood out particularly when taking part in the roles of Phil and Marci. Use of the complete stage and thoroughly thought-out physique actions to show the anger and disappointment of the characters individualized the roles immensely. Juxtaposed with the comedic appearing when taking part in Dave and Rhonda, Wooton and Brazier’s expertise was displayed absolutely throughout this manufacturing.
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Comparably, Rachel Fulton who performed Deena and Hope additionally confirmed a robust functionality to depict a variety of feelings by utilizing props, set items, and physique language to specific the fun, fears, and disappointments of each characters. Ainsley Corridor used all the pieces from physique to stage to permit Gayle to return to life and their scene accomplice Olivia Grace-Maxwell artfully created Lendall’s reactions. Whatever the dimension of the half, every actor was capable of strongly differentiate the characters and make them memorable.
The stage crew used the charmingly designed set by Shona Could and Keira O’Hara in each manner potential. From transferring complete items, to including new props, the group effectively created a quaint environment. The costumes curated by Irene Leduc match the characters exceptionally effectively, together with the hair and make-up, which assisted the actors in individualizing them. The Northern Lights performed an vital function on this manufacturing and Alyssa Sandercott and Grace Woolley managed them seamlessly, permitting the story to progress easily.
This gripping manufacturing of Virtually, Maine allowed an perception into the intricate lives of the characters and highlighted the expertise of all these concerned. The forged and crew did an unbelievable job of presenting this charming present.
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Mary Savage, Critic
St. Joseph Excessive College
Within the frosty surroundings of Virtually, Maine, a sequence of related love tales evokes considerable feelings. St. Mark Excessive College depicted an enthralling rural city with an array of entertaining love tales.
Within the dream-like theatrical manufacturing of Virtually, Maine, written by John Cariani, the portrait of a small, snow-kissed city unfolds via a story of heartwarming tales designed to discover the varied types of human connection. From a girl carrying her coronary heart in a bag to a few bodily falling for one another, every story provides a novel expertise. As characters navigate the boundaries of recent romances, separation, and affection, they outline love and the bonds that carry people collectively.
Every scene felt like a body of feelings, precisely captured by the actors and crew, who introduced whimsical and relatable facets to the manufacturing. The forged ignited the stage with contagious vitality, giving characters a way of life. Each character was particular person in their very own manner, making a plethora of amusing moments. The stage remodeled right into a canvas for the Northern Lights, mirroring the sunshine of affection that embraces the city of Virtually, Maine. Every factor of the manufacturing was handled care and keenness.
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Billy Wooton, within the function of Phil, performed a forgetful man which contrasts Reese-Cora Brazier who performs a resentful accomplice. Wooton conveyed an inattentive accomplice with a want to reconnect. Wooton’s projection and articulation allowed a fascinating efficiency. Brazier as Marci gave an attractive efficiency made by ardour. Brazier created perception into an irritated character via vigorous stage presence and exact speech.
Rachel Fulton as Hope was additionally notable. Fulton captured the richness and nuance of previous relationships, immersing appeal right into a common expertise. Fulton’s crystal-clear dialogue and immersive physicality have been most memorable in the course of the efficiency. Fulton’s portrayal provoked emotion and sympathy that defines Hope’s being on this play.
Amongst the manufacturing’s most noteworthy components have been its technical options. Alyssa Sandercott and Grace Woolley enchanted the stage with lighting that produced quite a lot of feelings. From illuminating the agricultural city, to ending a scene, Sandercott and Woolley enhanced the narrative with brilliance. The units, created by Shona Could and Keira O’Hara, constructed the essence of Virtually, Maine. The black backdrop and the snow-covered timber painted a imaginative and prescient of the surreal fantastic thing about this wintry story.
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The forged’s performances introduced the endearing and eccentric characters to life, via devotion and environment, efficiently incomes every memorable second on this manufacturing. St. Mark Excessive College created a body of feelings that resonated lengthy after the ultimate bows.
In regards to the opinions
This St. Mark Excessive College manufacturing was reviewed by 30 critics representing 5 colleges. The critic discussions have been mentored by instructor Ashley Visser, Program Chair of Canada’s Capital Cappies Steering Committee, and scholar opinions have been edited and chosen for publication by instructor Kasey Kirkup of Immaculata Excessive College, who may see solely the opinions, not the names or colleges of the reviewers.
Subsequent evaluate: St. Pius X Excessive College’s manufacturing of Tinker Bell.
In regards to the Cappies
The Citizen and 20 excessive colleges are taking part within the Cappies, a Washington, D.C. based mostly program that makes use of highschool critics to evaluate highschool theatre. This system is a novel partnership between the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa-Carleton District College Board and the Ottawa Catholic College Board. Two colleges from different boards within the area and one personal college have additionally joined. The 4 winners of the lead appearing classes will obtain a bursary offered by the worldwide legislation agency Gowling WLG Canada LLP. Observe Canada’s Capital Cappies on X (previously often called Twitter) and Instagram @OttawaCappies.
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