By Benedicte Dansie
Westminster College’s newly opened production of The School for Scandal is a witty and charming play that keeps audiences laughing and gasping with delight. With a plot full of intrigue, dashing rogues, and quick tongued characters, it’s a highly entertaining and engaging that offers a little something for everyone. The School for Scandal highlights the vices of gossip, extravagance, and betrayal, making them into a laughable lesson of how one should truly behave in society.
The play is set in an opulent world of 18th Century opulence and high society drama, which the production team establishes through the decadent costumes and antique props. Spencer Pott (Costume Designer), Abbi Hagen (Assistant Costume Designer), Lina Le (Hair and Makeup Designer), and the rest of the wardrobe and makeup crew have crafted beautiful costumes that highlight the characters’ personalities and motives. Dresses of rich colored silk, vests of intricately patterned brocade, towering powdered wigs, cinched corsets, and swishing bustles are just some of the elements pulled together to create the whole picture. In addition the majority of the characters have their faces painted white, flushed pink with rouge and lipstick, highlighting the comical facial expressions and showing that we all hide behind the masks we put on.
Spencer Brown (Set/Lighting Designer), Hayden Phillips (Props Master), and their team do an incredible job setting the scene from the very beginning. When the audience enters the theater, the stage is covered by the deep red curtain upon which the shadow of an intricate, wrought-iron fence is projected. This in addition to the quietly playing period music picked by Samantha Miller (Sound Designer) helps the audience slip into the night’s setting. When the curtains open, the set is very simplistic with rotating panels and antique seating allowing the audience to focus on the characters wild scandals. Sam Allen (Stage Manager) ensured that everything ran smoothly and that the transitions from scene to scene are seamless and entertaining. Between set changes characters performe tiny, comical scenes for the audience showing deeper glances into personalities and situations.
Sydney Shoell (Lady Teazle) plays a bright and dazzling character who lights up the stage every time she enters a scene. Caught up in the wickedness of Lady Sneerwell and her associates, Lady Teazle struggles to find herself among the society she’s been thrust into. Originally a young farm girl, she seizes her chance to rise in society by marrying Sir Peter and immediately remakes herself as a fashionable and well connected lady.
Stoney Graver (Sir Peter Teazle) plays the older, laughable character with an honesty and exasperation that has the audience laughing until the end. He is helplessly in love with his young wife and longs to have her return his affections. Since he feels that he can’t win her love due to their age gap, he decides he will constantly keep her attention by picking fights and bringing out her temper. He tries to keep everyone around him honest and is constantly calling out Lady Sneerwell and her companions for their vulgar behavior. Dylan McKernen (Lady Sneerwell) opens the play with her extravagant costume and enormous personality. She plays the deceitful and cunning headmaster of all the plans to destroy Maria and Charles’ love. She thinks that Charles’ tendencies toward extravagance and vice make him the perfect companion. She leads the ring of gossips artfully by playing the Devil’s advocate and wholly enjoying the lives she ruins along the way.
Evan Leeds (Joseph Surface) is the seemingly innocent Surface who is actually working with Lady Sneerwell to ruin his brother. Joseph attempts to seduce both Maria and Lady Teazle to elevate his status and improve society’s view of him. He constantly claims that his good values are leading him into more trouble than any of his vices are. His character fits the stereotype of the young, wealthy is somewhat whiny and tries to improve his worth by constantly quoting platitudes and degrading others. Jaiden Castleton (Charles Surface) fondly referred to as “A Dear Extravagant Rogue” secretly hides a quick wit and humor. He’s exceedingly frank and is one of the only characters to truly admit and accept his many faults. He is stubborn when it comes to matters of importance and family, hiding a soft streak for the girl he loves and those in need. He adds a light and humor to the show that feels more real due to his acceptance of who he is.
Viviane Turman (Sir Oliver Surface) is a riot as she creates a self-righteous, self-obsessed, hypocrite that the audience still finds themselves rooting for. Sir Oliver creates the main drama behind the storyline by dropping in unexpectedly to check up on his nephew’s behavior since he’s heard all sort of rumors about what they’ve grown into. With an inclination toward the dramatic and deceitful, Sir Oliver keeps everyone entertained and overjoyed. Makall Silvester (Mrs. Candour) plays her wicked-tongued character with an innocence that just adds to the corruption. A truly horrific gossip she hides her intrigue behind clever questions and well timed exclamations while gathering all the information she possibly can to sell to the newspapers.
Brie Bauer (Mr. Rowley) plays a loyal character. Mr. Rowley was the steward of the late Mr. Surface and as such feels a deep loyalty toward his two wayward sons. Throughout the play, Rowley seeks to show the true character of the boys by assisting Lord Oliver and Sir Peter in their schemes. Hannah Orr (Maria) is arguably the only pure character in the play. All she wants is to know the truth of what is happening around her. She hates the gossiping and malice of Lady Sneerwell and her friends and often flees their company for solitude. She is in love with Charles and struggles with the image society places upon him and what she personally knows of his character. Katie Smith (Moses) plays the old money advisor who is supposed to be helping Charles improve his financial situation. Instead Moses finds himself caught up in the tests and tricks of Charles’ family. Moses’ grey judge’s wig and obvious enjoyment of the whole convoluted plot makes him a highly agreeable character for the audience.
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Maddie Elledge (Sir Benjamin Backbite) and Ryan Klenz (Mr.Crabtree) are a highly entertaining set playing nephew and uncle respectively. Elledge plays the young writer who though rather vicious is quite besotted with Maria. While Klenz plays the pushy older uncle who is constantly riling up his nephew. The two talk each other in circles throughout the night and their characters are constantly trying to outdo each other. Ryan Jacquet (Snake) wears one of the wildest costumes of the night, topped with a large, white wig curled at the top to look like devil horns. Snake’s character fits his name and all night he sets about betraying each and every person who puts any trust in him. PJ Kelsch (Careless) highlights the follies behind his character’s name by caring about absolutely nothing at all. He pushes Charles to get into more and more trouble by constantly emphasizing the importance of doing fun things such as drinking and gambling. Abenadie Hofeling (Trip) plays upon his character’s name and constantly trips and tumbles across the stage. He is most often seen stalking back and forth with a large map covered screen. His grumpy manner, uncultured accent, and mismatched shorts with knee socks makes him seem the least likely candidate for a gentleman’s Butler.
Julia Marino (Lady Sneerwell’s Servant/Sir Harry Bumper) brings her quiet, seemingly background character to life with her energetic nervousness. She scurries to and from the stage and seems to mock all of Lady Sneerwell’s rambunctious crew with her constantly late, sweeping bows. Alex Aspiazu (Teazle’s Maid/Servant) helps in the opening scene and several set changes to add entertainment and energy to the play. She is seen constantly conversing with the other servants and even characters such as Joseph Surface, offering them flirty looks and shy smiles. Colton Barnhart (Joseph’s Steward/1st Gentleman) is constantly letting in all of Mr. Surface’s guests even if he doesn’t want them allowing for several awkward and entertaining encounters. He then attempts to apologize by casting himself at his master’s feet which leaves the audience of fits of laughter. Sophia Luker (2nd Gentleman) helps to establish Charles’ wild reputation by participating in a rousing drinking song. In addition, she assists in setting the various scenes and giving amusing vignettes during each.
Director Melanie Nelson and Assistant /Dialect Coach Suni Gigliotti have orchestrated a masterpiece that I would highly recommend to anyone who has the time to see it. The cast and crew are absolutely phenomenal and the show is run seamlessly, providing almost 2 ½ hours of entertainment. The lessons of turning away from gossip and the many vices we all succumb to is extremely applicable today and leaves the audience feeling changed and satisfied.
Westminster College Presents The School for Scandal written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Courage Theater, 1840 1300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
November 8-10, 15-17, 2018 7:30 PM
Tickets: $12/Free for Westminster students, staff, and faculty
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