Godwin brings romance and wit to Mac Damron Theater
This year, Godwin’s theater department produced a lively adaptation of one of the most beloved pieces of English Literature: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Godwin’s version, which was written by Jon Jory, was performed on November 30, December 1, and December 2 of 2023.
Pride and Prejudice is centered around two potential lovers, Elizabeth Bennett, played by Godwin Junior Hazel Hornsby and Mr. Darcy played by Godwin Junior Davis Hollister.
The two unlikely lovers must face leaps and bounds to overcome their individual pride, and their prejudice toward one another in a society that want to keep the poor apart from the rich, and a society that marries women off primarily for financial reasons and social status. Both Hornsby and Hollister were able to capture the tension and the playful back and forth of the two leads.
Opening night is always a stressful night for both the cast and the crew. Jerold Solomon, the director of Pride and Prejudice, said, “I thought the opening night for Pride and Prejudice was exciting, the show went great, and the kids did a really great job running the show. I was able to just sit back and enjoy.”
Olivia Kay, the assistant theater director and Godwin History teacher, said this of the performances, “The kids did a fantastic job. They worked for three months on getting ready, on building the sets, and on making sure they didn’t forget their lines [for the play].”
Any successful run of a show relies heavily on the cast and crew. Nothing can happen throughout any performance without those behind the curtain. It was obvious that the tech crew did their work well, as it was easy to focus solely on the performances at hand. Emily Huneycutt, a senior, playing the role of Lady Catherine De Bourgh, said, “My favorite scene is my interaction with Hazel towards the end of the show because we can show our abilities to argue as different, unique characters.”
The actors took their roles with the responsibility needed to properly fulfill a work like Pride and Prejudice. Junior Maggie Schoonmaker, playing the role of Mrs. Bennet, said, “I would say I probably read through my script about twice a day. I would read aloud with my parents and practice my blocking at home to ensure it was muscle memory by the time of the show.”
Junior Matt Cipolleti, playing the role of Mr. Bingley, said, “Mr. Bingley feels like a happy-go-lucky character who just goes for it, whatever it may be. Whether it’s asking someone to dance at a party, or a marriage proposal, Bingley is down for it.”
The success of Pride and Prejudice is purely a reflection of the hard work of the cast and crew. As said by Kay, “We had about 300 people show up to support our kids on opening night, which is a fantastic turnout on a Thursday.” With that being said, the next production, a musical in the spring, is surely going to draw a lot of attention.
