Effie Goebler ’29
This year’s fall production of Pride and Prejudice was truly incredible. The effort that the actors, tech crew, and even musicians, like student Danity Pike ’27, put into the play shows the drive and determination that these students have to create something that they’re proud of. Pike composed and recorded all of the music herself. The play was a triumph for the EA Domino Club and the EA community as a whole. It was seamless, emotional, and had everyone on the edge of their seats. The actors truly transformed from students into Victorian elite, and the tech crew was also phenomenal. Lighting, sounds, costumes, and props were carefully selected and crafted to transport the audience back in time.
Photo courtesy of Ellen Erikson
There was never a dull moment during EA’s Pride and Prejudice; it expertly kept audience members’ attention and left them feeling like a part of the action. “They were really comfortable in the roles…they embraced the characters’ personalities and made the play come alive,” notes audience member Callen Park ’29. Because EA’s plays are always performed in the small and intimate Black Box theater, with seating on all four walls, spectating is extremely immersive. The audience can notice each background task, like the Bennet sisters bouncing a ball back and forth or partygoers chatting, and also each facial expression. Audience member Bella Winner ’28 acknowledges this: “It was really well done, especially because I feel like it was such a hard play to do, because some of the scenes are very emotional, but all the actors did a really good job at portraying their emotions.” The actors functioned as a team, perfectly in sync, building off of each other and the audience’s energy to create a space where the audience and actors could almost become one.
The sets, lighting, and sound also left the audience stunned. Park notes, “I really like the props…but I also really liked the music during intermission.” A tech crew member, Sophie Cossel ’29 continues, “The way the actors interacted with the set is very cool. Like, they are the ones who brought it to life, and I feel like that was amazing to see.” Behind the scenes, the tech crew worked diligently to create a space that felt authentically Victorian in the 21st century, which is definitely not an easy feat, especially when they lacked a technical director for the first two months of work. Lighting sequences, props, sets, and music were crafted with care and expertly displayed during the production. Although the audience doesn’t see them until the final bows, the tech crew is the backbone of the EA Domino Club, making sure everything runs perfectly so that audience members can become fully immersed in Pride and Prejudice.
Photo courtesy of Ellen Erikson
The play isn’t only fun to watch, though; it’s also a great creative outlet and a break from the stresses of the school day for countless EA students. “I think it’s a way to form a really nice community, like everyone there is just really nice, and it makes me want to come back again. And also, I think it’s like the feeling of just having it all come together at the end. It feels nice…I like getting to experience playing a part,” says Parvathi Balakrishnan ’28, who played Charlotte Lucas. Cossel ’29 adds, “My current favorite part about [the play] is designing the sets. Especially in high school tech, there’s more freedom, and it’s really more the students doing most of the things and just the adults standing by to make sure nothing goes wrong.
The flawlessness of the play is a representation of the dedication the students had to the play. Everyone knows that the play is hard work, but play director and theater teacher Daniel Clay explains that, “The preparation for the play is intense. We started rehearsal over the summer…We rehearsed on weekends, on Saturday mornings, and they never complained about that. They love being in rehearsal, so I’m just in awe of them and how hard they work.” Students worked tirelessly to make something beautiful, and their diligence was obvious to anyone who watched the play. During tech week, play practice ran until nine at night! Samantha Slye ’27, who played Elizabeth “Lizzie” Bennet, comments,“I think the cast worked really, really hard all together, and the level of professionalism and collaboration that everyone had really made us put on something that was truly awesome.” The fall production of Pride and Prejudice was a masterpiece, combining different skills from each facet of the EA community to transport audience members back in time. Actors and tech crew wanted to create a special experience for viewers, and they did just that. The EA community is already looking forward to the musical, Little Shop of Horrors.
