FARMINGTON – The Mt. Blue Theater Company’s annual Theater Banquet was held Thursday to reminisce about the season and to award and acknowledge the outgoing seniors. The evening began with a potluck supper and lots of bustling conversation about the past year’s plays as students filled out the theater trivia questionnaire. The students who could answer the most questions gained reverence from their peers and a door prize. As always, the evening was marked with bittersweet memories of a stellar season of drama which included the first show streamed live at Mt. Blue (Shuddersome: Tales of Poe), a student-written one act about elves working for quite a different St. Nicholas than you’d expect (“Ears”), and Macbeth, a tragic Shakespearean extravaganza.
This year’s “Student Playwright/Director” awards were earned by junior Julian Thomson and senior Alan Sherrod. The two began writing their play last year at the regional one act play festival. They were inspired to write their own show by their interest in the Russian Revolution, George Orwell, and an episode of Family Guy. Under the guidance of English teacher, Dan Ryder, they worked on their play “Ears” until December when they held auditions. After that, Sherrod relinquished his directing duties except on Tuesdays—the only day he didn’t have a college course commitment, and Thomson took over. He did exceptionally well at explaining the show and its relevance to historical and present day events which motivated his actors to perform even difficult “revolution” scenes with verve and vitality. Sherrod will continue his education next year at Clarkson University, hopefully finding time to enjoy theater occasionally between his scientific studies, while Thomson will be here and focusing his final year at Mt. Blue studying theater and definitely directing another play.
The Senior Theater Awards this year were earned by two students who’ve been involved with theater for all four of their high school years. They’ve lately been dubbed Theater Mom and Dad by their peers for their leadership and devotion to the company. Drew Crockett has been an actor, a set builder, and a costumer. He’s appeared in all four of the student-written one act plays and has earned acting awards at the Maine Drama Festival and, locally, the MBTC Bobby Watson Award voted on by theatrical audience members. Most recently he had the lead in “Ears” playing an elf who sparks and leads a revolt against a tyrannical authority, and as Lennox, a thane of Scotland in Macbeth, as well as sewing a number of tunics for the show. He plans to take a gap year next year, hopefully taking part in local community theater.
Natalie Wood began her theater career as the giggly wife of Scrooge’s nephew in A Christmas Carol. She’s been in several Play Production Class Plays enacting a spoiled princess and a horse side kick, as well as taking part in all four student-written one act productions. She’s helped out backstage as a stage hand and stage manager as well as using her skills learned in Commercial Arts to make cast t shirts and in Digital Media to create a film used for the apparitions scene in Macbeth. Natalie will also be taking a gap year where she will also hopefully find time to help out with some community shows.
Other seniors recognized were Emma Haywood, Nicole Pires, “Swan” Al reqem, and Park Lafflin, who along with other seniors who couldn’t attend, will be keenly missed next year. The evening was concluded with a slide show, an outlook of next year’s season (which will have a comedy theme to contrast this year’s dramatic one), and an open mic variety show.
– Submitted by Deborah Muise
