Bellarmine Preparatory School’s Drama Department has been well-received in recent years with its high quality productions. The combination of astounding sets, costumes, hair, makeup, props, lighting, sound, direction, and the actors themselves has made the department what it is. “Mamma Mia” was performed this last spring and obtained a lot of attention from the student body, so it was exciting to see what would be in store following that success.
Under the direction of John Forier, Bellarmine Preparatory School’s fall play—”The Importance of Being Earnest”— performed its show last month from Nov. 7 to Nov. 10.
Instead of the usual period piece way that “The Importance of Being Earnest” is most often staged, a modern approach was taken with the implementation of social media, futuristic and fantastical fashion, and a raked stage in the shape of a phone.
“The Importance of Being Earnest” is about a man who takes on a double life in order to live two completely separate lives in both the country and city. He goes by the name of Earnest in one location and Jack in the other. This facade fails, however, when his lies are revealed by his friend, Algernon. Chaos ensues from there, and a complicated somewhat love triangle only makes things more difficult for the pair of friends turned enemies.
I have been a part of the theatre department since my freshman year. I am now a senior, so this was my second to last show at Bellarmine and my final fall play. It is bittersweet, because although I am ecstatic to be continuing my theatre journey into college, I am so thankful for the many opportunities that Bellarmine theatre has provided me.
In my time here at school, I was involved in “The Birds,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Peter and the Starcatcher,” “Lucky Stiff,” “Rehearsal for Murder,” “Mamma Mia,” a play written by myself titled,”Finding Hope,” and “The Importance of Being Earnest.” I have taken on the roles of actor, director, writer, producer, and crew member throughout my four years.
I played Lady Bracknell in this most recent show, and it was definitely the most difficult role I have ever played. Being cast as a mean and dramatic older lady was a challenge for me since she is the opposite of any character I’ve played in the past. It was exciting and fun playing around with different approaches and choices for my character though, and I feel that I really stepped out of my comfort zone as an actor. I want to thank director, Mr. Forier, for giving me that chance to expand my horizons.
This show had such an incredible cast and crew. There are a multitude of moving parts that go into creating art, and it takes a team to make it happen. Theatre is a place where a group of people come together to make something transformative, and it is by no means easy. It takes tremendous work from every single person involved to succeed in making something memorable. I have said this probably a thousand times at this point, but I am going to say it again. We as artists have the ability to build a bridge between imagination and reality, and when it happens, when it clicks, it’s magic.
Bellarmine theatre has been my family from freshman to senior year, and I am forever grateful for all it has given me. Every year the seniors leave, the leadership roles are passed down, and every departing senior writes a note on the backstage walls. Some of these notes are hilarious anecdotes, some are inside jokes between cast and crew, and some are truly touching messages about life and what it means to move forward onto the next stages. I am going to write my note on that wall this year, and I cannot believe how fast time has flown. I know that wherever I am years down the road, I will always think back on that wall full of past students’ memories, and memories of my own, and how Bellarmine theatre changed my life.
