The Laramie Project at Duke Ellington

by Katie Frank - Montgomery Blair High School

selected for The Duke Ellington Theater News

 

It is uncommon for a high school theater group to choose a play with such a serious theme and a gripping story that its audience members and even its actors are moved to tears by the end. Duke Ellington School of the Arts’s decision to perform the gripping “The Laramie Project” was both a daring one and quite certainly a triumphant one.

“The Laramie Project,” written by Moisés Kaufman, is a conglomeration of interviews conducted by Kaufman and his theater group, the Tectonic Theater Project, in Laramie, Wyoming, after the 1998 murder of University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. Shepard was murdered by two fellow students because he was gay, and the play explores and retells the response of the Laramie community.

Duke Ellington’s production was exceptional because of the solid and versatile talent of its cast. Each cast member took on multiple roles and managed to differentiate quite effectively between characters with their voices, expressions and movements rather than relying on costumes or sets. Their production was particularly impressive because of the way they mastered the intricate blocking and transitions. Set changes were established through the movement of simple blocks and the cast members worked together to make every set and costume change run swiftly.

Corey-Antonio Hawkins stood out in each of his roles, imbuing each with precise mannerisms and characterization. As Sergeant Hing, he interrogated one of the murderers with a believable disgust and authority. As bartender Matt Galloway, he was an easygoing and outspoken young man. Rebecca Hollingsworth did a similarly fine job in creating well-defined characters. She was vulnerable and heartbreaking as the young Aaron Kreifels, and tough yet equally heartbreaking as Matthew Shepard’s father, Dennis Shepard.

Christian Campbell engaged the audience with his energetic portrayals of both Doc O’Connor, the limousine driver, and Fred Phelps, the frighteningly aggressive anti-gay protestor. Renee Wilson stood out for her surprisingly believable portrayal of the elderly, cigarette-smoking Marge Murray. She hobbled around the stage and her hand shook holding the cigarette, but none of it looked fake or exaggerated. Amanda Fernandez and Matthew Hailes were also notable for the sincere way in which they inhabited each of their roles.

The set and costumes for Duke Ellington’s show were very simple, but simplicity was appropriate as “The Laramie Project” relies primarily on the talent of the actors. There were occasional lighting and sound glitches but nothing that detracted significantly from the production. Music was used, for the most part effectively, to set the tone of scenes and to provide transitions.

Duke Ellington’s production of “The Laramie Project” was heartfelt and triumphant. The amount of work and practice each actor dedicated to his or her role was evident, and the emotional investment each had put into the play was obvious. “The Laramie Project” is a show about the transformation of a small town and even more so about a great tragedy whose reverberations are still felt today. The cast engaged its audience and sent each audience member home with a message against hate and violence.