THE ARTS AT WIDENER: A STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE OF LIVE THEATRE
By Rebbeca Stallard
An integral part of a student’s education, the fine arts is an interconnected discipline with myriad opportunities for self-expression and entertainment. Live theatre is one such opportunity. Widener students participated in multiple productions throughout the Fall 2021 semester with the Lone Brick Theatre Company, including “Lovers and Madmen: Visions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and Branden Jacobs-Jenkin’s “Everybody”. A retelling of the Shakespeare classic “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Lovers and Madmen: Visions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream” drew inspiration from Shakespeare’s original characters in creating a unique set and storyline. With the Taylor Memorial Arboretum providing a picturesque and true-to-text backdrop, Widener students and alumni assumed the many roles of Shakespeare’s characters, including the four main protagonists Lysander, Hermia, Demetrius, and Helena. The audience was able to be fully immersed in the love affairs of each character as the actors ran and interacted with the group throughout the production.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s “Everybody” was a reimagination of the English morality play “Everyman”. One of the oldest surviving pieces of English literature, “Everyman” explores the abstract concepts of death and love, ultimately reframing the purpose of life as being capable of experiencing love. Jacobs-Jenkins sought to bring this timeless message into the modern era, updating the original language of “Everyman” to make it more palatable for modern audiences. The Lone Brick Theatre Company took this concept and ran with it, using elaborate props and special effects to bring the message of “Everybody” to life for their audience. Widener students played many of the main roles, including Katie Liberton as “Love” and Julie Clarke, Brendon MacNeal, McKenna Stine, and Maggie McCann as “Everybodies”.
Both productions were received well by audiences, with “Lovers and Madmen: Visions of a Midsummer Night’s Dream” being a part of the 2021 Fringe Festival hosted by FringeArts. Katie Liberton shared her experience with the Lone Brick Theatre Company:
“I was introduced to theatre as a child in a kids’ theatre program. My first show was ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’. I had a great experience, so I kept going out for shows after that. I loved the creativity and uniqueness of [Lovers and Madmen]. Each audience member had the chance to experience a completely different show and I thought that was really special. I was casted as a Fairy Guide, which is the role I went out for, but if I did the show again I’d love to be Helena”.
The Lone Brick Theatre Company production for the Spring 2022 semester will be Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses”. We look forward to seeing the Widener Pride in the audience and on the stage!