Elizabeth Gillis
Staff Writer
On February 5th, the Black Box put together a production directed by seniors Thomas Mitsock, Micki Downey, and Sam Nudler. The play was titled By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea and was broken up into three “Dawn”, “Day”, and “Dusk”. The one act plays were about what the experiences of characters while down at the sea.
Both cast and crew have been working on the play since December in order to ensure the production would be a success. Leading up to the performances, three hour rehearsals were held in preparation for the showing of the performance.
“It’s been really exciting because it’s not like we each had a full length play. We were able to focus on the specifics on a thirty minute piece, and so we could really emphasize the important relationships in it, and not be clouded by a bunch of technological elements,” said senior Thomas Mitsock.
The characters in all three acts face some sort of difficulties ranging from sibling strife, impossible favors, and facing conflicts within their love lives.
“I think each of the characters in our shows are very complex, and so it’s a great opportunity for our performers to grow as actors,” said senior Micki Downey.
In the first act Pat, Veronica, and Quentin, portrayed by actors Harley Fields, Nina Tedstone, and William Redman, were out at the sea about to spread their mother’s ashes into the rough Atlantic Ocean. Pat is a newly divorced high school french teacher, while Quentin is a successful business man married to his Buddhist wife Veronica. They soon begin disputing about their mother and the ashes, and the emotions begin to run high.
During the second act, Ace performed by Michael Tricca, comes to the beach to find relaxation away from his busy and hectic life. Once there, he meets up with a woman named Macey, played by freshman Abby Wood. She is at the beach to find peace and quiet to write her novel on a court case. Not long after meeting each other, Ace’s girlfriend Bill portrayed by Claire Clark, arrives onto the scene, and accidentally tells Macey about Ace’s position as a part of the jury duty. Macey soon begins questioning him and gives him the proposal of getting his dream boat if he does her a favor.
The last act, entitled “Dusk”, actors Haley Crogan, Olivia Overington, and Ethan Parker, portray Marsha, Dana, and Willy. These three strangers meet up with one another. Marsha and Dana both find themselves attracted to Willy. After many attempts to win over Willy, he himself admits that he is attracted to both Dana and Marsha, but confesses that he is married and has children. After overcoming the surprise, the women and Willy talk about their troubling love lives.
