On October 24th, the Woodgrove Theater is taking a bold new step towards a very different kind of play, the Scarlet Letter. A play based in Boston in the 1650s, it will pose a much more mature contrast to the theater’s recent track record, and the cast and crew are buzzed about it.
Based in a very different time and place where people held different values, the play similarly has very different motifs and themes. In recent years, this is new to the Woodgrove theater: coming immediately after upbeat plays like Elf and Spongebob, the darker themes of Scarlet Letter are a stark change.
This is no accident. Theater teacher and Director Mrs Pruzina claims that the Scarlet Letter’s more mature themes are a reflection of two major components: willingness and ability. “Based on the people involved… and because we’ve been successful in the last couple of years,” as Pruzina puts it, she is able to determine what play to perform. Rather than the play determining the turnout of the auditions, she reveals that the turnout determines they play; the fact that she knows the skillsets of many returning actors means the play can be tailored to make the best use of them. The other side of the coin relates to the theater’s recent relative success. “Growing our program from a no-name show to clue, then puffs, and now the scarlet letter, we’re so grateful,” Pruzina says in context of profits made in the last few years. Woodgrove is unique in that ticket sales and play profits go to the play itself instead of to other projects, meaning the program has been becoming increasingly more capable of large production
The Woodgrove actors and actresses playing in the Scarlet Letter are definitely trying different things this time. Scarlet Letter is based in the 1600s, so the play is written in old English. Senior Ryan Buxton who plays Mr. Bracket, the jail keeper says, ”At request of my director, the monologue I prepared for my audition was one also written in old English, so our acting abilities in this kind of language could be taken into account. Learning how to speak old English in rhythm and trying to figure out what it means so you can make distinct acting choices definitely takes some work,”
What does this mean for the audience? The Scarlet Letter will be different from any play before, and not just because of the prominent and valuable social issues it brings to light. Both increased funding and the darker aura of the play mean the set, costumes and physical manifestation of what’s seen on stage changes. “We’re taking on a more realistic approach,” costume mistress Rory Fricano says, as the theatrical aspects of extra splashes of color or “zanier” costumes are absent from this production. Something Rotten, which was also a period piece recently produced by Woodgrove, still did not have the same seriousness and maturity that this play aims to have, reflected through the costumes and setting, as Fricano claims.
Overall, the Scarlet Letter being the school’s next play is a direct reflection of costumes, set design, the actors and school budget, as well as vice versa, which will help set this historical story apart from the rest. This change of things will be great for the future of the Woodgrove Theater. Buxton shares their excitement about this new type of play Woodgrove is doing. “I am very excited about this choice. This is the first time in my high school career that our fall play has been a drama. We have only done comedic fall plays for as long as I’ve been here. I am very excited for the challenge and to see what we can bring to this genre.” said Buxton.