Winthrop’s Department of Theatre and Dance kicked off its 2018-2019 season by opening “Luna Gale” on Sept. 26. The show ran for five days to sold out crowds. The show has mature themes, but those themes were used effectively and gave the show a powerful message. Students that saw the show were able to relate to the show and, in light of recent events happening on Capitol Hill and around the United States, the show is timely.
Going into the show, I was not sure what to expect. I heard that the show dealt with the issues of drug addiction and child parenting but did not know the exact details. The show took place in the studio theatre and used the space effectively. At different points, the actors were as close to the audience as they could get, and at other points, they were as far upstage as they could get. The directing was also spot–on because the actors played to all sides of the theater, which I have not always seen in past studio theatre productions.
Caroline, the show’s protagonist, was played by Maddie Willard. Willard did a phenomenal job at portraying a character who is strong-willed and willing to stand up for her beliefs, even when everyone else is against her. Karli and Peter were played by Joy White and Noah Marcum. Their portrayal of a young couple addicted to drugs was exceptional. Not only was it believable but they made their characters relatable and did not just play stereotypical drug addicts. The rest of the cast did a fantastic job overall and the lighting and sound cues matched the show well.
Students found the show surprising and overall, it exceeded their expectations. “I was pleasantly surprised that the show was more about family and the dynamic of overcoming,” Sophomore Eliza DelleFave said. “It was definitely better than expected and deals with experiences that a lot of people go through. Especially the idea of dealing with parents forcing their beliefs,” Said senior mass communications major Bailey Dubbs.
The show also deals with the issues of why women may not want to speak out when they are sexually assaulted. With the current happenings of the #MeToo movement and the Kavanagh hearing, it is a play that speaks louder than ever. I commend the playwright, cast and crew for getting this message out there. “Luna Gale” does not shy from the concept that life reflects art and that art has the potential to create an impact. Overall, the show was one of the best student directed performances I have seen and a great way to kick off this year’s CVPA season.
