The world of Oscar Wilde’s short story, “Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime,” adapted by playwright Robert Urbinati, came alive under the direction of Elizabeth Rothan, class of ’85, in the premiere of “West Moon Street” on March 15.

Audiences were taken back to the Victorian era and upper-class British society where duty was a priority for gentlemen such as Lord Arthur Savile, played by freshman Cole Curtright, who has a “secret that he kept locked away in his heart.”

The performance kept audiences on their feet with a thick plot, witty lines and eloquently designed period costumes by instructional associate costume designer and shop manager Alethia Moore-del Monaco.

“West Moon Street” received positive comments from Linfield students.

“I love how visually gorgeous the costumes and sets are,” sophomore Caitlyn Olson said.

Freshman Sylvan Tovar said he thought the characters were performed well.

“I liked Lady Windermere [played by freshman Gabrielle Leif]. She was really driven and had unique interests,” he said. “My favorite part was that actors were given a voice, and it was well acted — really well done.”

Curtright said he could easily connect with the lead role of Arthur Savile.

“I think in some aspects I am like my character,” Curtright said. “I can relate to him. He likes to have fun.”

Junior Kanon Havens, who played Sybil Merton, said she felt the opposite about her role.

“I thought I was much more like her when reading the script,” Havens said. “I found out she was bubbly and energetic, but I wasn’t really connecting to the play. She’s not really like me.”

Rothan noted some challenges with the play, including developing the role of the maid, removing the piano player and changing one male role to a female role.

Senior Rachel Westrick, who played Mrs. Podges, said that although Urbinati had to rewrite the play to accommodate these changes, the physical appearances of the characters didn’t matter.

Freshman Jacob Priester, who played Charles the Butler, talked about the significance of plays in general.

“Plays are intimate and audiences can connect with the actors. It’s not edited, and it’s more of a natural experience live,” he said.
For Rothan, the power of plays is that they “reflect life. [They’re] pieces of themselves; [they] inform awareness — in this case, culture, and more compassion and ideas. [They]give an insight into other people’s worlds; [They] take ourselves out of time’ and we all need to laugh.”

Yoko Gardiner can be reached at linfieldreviewculture@gmail.com.

The Linfield Department of Theatre and Communication Arts opened its first play of the season, a comedy by Ken Ludwig, titled “Lend Me A Tenor” on Nov. 4 in the Marshall Theatre in Ford Hall.
The play, set in 1934, is about a famous opera singer, Tito Morelli, Il Stupendo, who is supposed to perform at the Cleveland Grand Opera Company for one night.
Saunders, the general manager of the opera company, constantly puts down his employee, Max. When Tito arrives late and sick to the show, Max tries to win his boss’ approval by helping him out and giving him sleeping pills. However, Tito takes too large of a dose and passes out. Saunders and Max think that he overdosed and died.
To get a handle on the situation, Max pretends to be Tito, fooling everyone and filling in for him in the show. Eventually, Tito comes to and is ready to perform.
The rest of the play turns into a confusing scenario of mistaken identity between Tito and Max and the women who pine for them, cast member freshman Ellen Brahe said.
Brahe plays the lead female role, Maggie, who is Max’s girlfriend. Max asks her to marry him, and she says no because she wants to wait. She declined because she is obsessed with Tito and wants to lose her virginity to him, Brahe said.
“Maggie is a busybody; her character is everywhere,” Brahe said. “She wants to charm [Tito] and fall in love.”
This was Brahe’s first formal audition and casting at Linfield and the first time she has ever played a female role in her acting career, she said.
“Playing Maggie has gotten me to open up my femininity,” she said. “It’s been a real journey for me.”
“Lend Me A Tenor” also opened up new experiences for male lead, junior Jeremy Moll, who plays Tito.
“I had to step out of my comfort zone because my character is so energetic, and it was a challenge acting ‘dead,’” Moll said. “This was by far the most in-depth I have been in a role.”
Besides Tito’s drama onstage, there is a lot of action off stage such as, running from the police and getting sick in the bathroom, Moll said.
“It is a great script, and I really enjoyed it,” he said. “It is clever, entertaining and fits together well.”
Other students cast in the play are freshman Jenny Layton; sophomores Chris Forrer, Aaron Granum, Jenaveve Linabery and Claudia Ramirez; and senior Chris Lambert.
Approximately 39 students auditioned for a part in the play; however, there were only eight spots available, Brahe said.
Janet Gupton, associate professor of theatre arts and resident director, chose and directed the play.
“I recommend anyone to watch this play because it is a whimsical comedy,” Brahe said. “The misidentity is a big part of the comical aspect.”
Tickets can be purchased at the Marshall Theatre Box Office by phone, on the Web or in person. General admission is $9; seniors, 62 and over, and Linfield faculty and staff pay $7; and student tickets are $5. Student tickets can be purchased for $3 on Nov. 5.
“Lend Me A Tenor” will be performed Nov. 4-6 and 11-13 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. in the Marshall Theatre in Ford Hall.
For more information about purchasing tickets, visit www.linfield.edu/arts-and-culture.html.

Jessica Prokop/Culture editor
Jessica Prokop can be reached at linfieldreviewculture@gmail.com