This review is by Kristin Johnson of the Fairfax County Times. View the article here.
“I’m sick to death of this particular self. I want another,” said Orlando, the titular character in the novel by Virginia Woolf. This is a sentiment most people feel at some point in their lives, often most acutely during adolescence. That is what makes Sarah Ruhl’s adaptation of “Orlando” the perfect vehicle for the teenage cast of The Traveling Players.
At its heart, the play is about identity. When we meet Orlando, he is a melancholy young man with the sensibilities of a poet. The audience follows Orlando in a series of vignettes. Like life, these moments can be sad, charming, or funny but always thought-provoking.
Midway through the story, the nobleman falls asleep for a week. Then, like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, Orlando wakes a woman. There is no explanation for the change of sex or Orlando’s living for centuries. By blurring the physical qualities that define a person, Woolf created a unique vehicle to examine the inner attributes essential to the individual.
“Orlando” is “the journey of a community. At the center of this community is a single person who goes on many adventures and experiences a major change after 200 years of living. However, this person cannot understand their flaws and the many changes they’ve been through without the community that surrounds them,” said Ryan Fields, director, in his pre-play speech.
While this is a cast of high school students, the cast is talented and serious about the play. They have been in rehearsal since January. Naomi Goldstein plays Orlando. She expertly captures both the bravado and thoughtfulness needed to play the role. Though her costumes change throughout, she is always dressed in shades of green, the color Orlando has tried to capture in his first poem.
“Orlando” is “the journey of a community. At the center of this community is a single person who goes on many adventures and experiences a major change after 200 years of living. However, this person cannot understand their flaws and the many changes they’ve been through without the community that surrounds them,” said Ryan Fields, director, in his pre-play speech.
While this is a cast of high school students, the cast is talented and serious about the play. They have been in rehearsal since January. Naomi Goldstein plays Orlando. She expertly captures both the bravado and thoughtfulness needed to play the role. Though her costumes change throughout, she is always dressed in shades of green, the color Orlando has tried to capture in his first poem.
The rest of the ensemble swirls around the stage, dressed in shades of cream. They are a Greek Chorus that effortlessly shifts between echoing Orlando’s inner monologue and narrating the play. Whenever a chorus member grabs an item of color, like a navy jacket, a grey fur hat, or a red pillow, they morph into a specific character in the plot.
The concept works well and makes the scenes from Orlando’s life feel like memories. I was worried that Woolf would be too complex for a high school troupe, but that is untrue.
“We are no strangers to heady material; our high school students perform Shakespeare in the summer. Traveling Players’ specialty is to train students in classical theatre,” said Jeanne Harrison, artistic director. “Giving students elevated language and complex narratives instills a certain amount of trust in our student performers – and we’ve found that when we give them challenges, they rise to the occasion!”
“Orlando” is currently playing in conjunction with “Treasure Island.” The cast is mainly made up of tweens. Both productions are part of the Traveling Players’ various ensembles. The company trains students between nine and 18 during the school year and through various summer camps.
“In the winter, we perform classic books, often already on their school reading lists, that have been adapted into plays,” said Harrison. “Our goal is to get kids interested in reading these books by “meeting” the characters and connecting to their journeys. We choose plays that are not only age-appropriate for our students but also appropriate for families to bring their children too.”
The rest of the ensemble swirls around the stage, dressed in shades of cream. They are a Greek Chorus that effortlessly shifts between echoing Orlando’s inner monologue and narrating the play. Whenever a chorus member grabs an item of color, like a navy jacket, a grey fur hat, or a red pillow, they morph into a specific character in the plot.
The concept works well and makes the scenes from Orlando’s life feel like memories. I was worried that Woolf would be too complex for a high school troupe, but that is untrue.
“We are no strangers to heady material; our high school students perform Shakespeare in the summer. Traveling Players’ specialty is to train students in classical theatre,” said Jeanne Harrison, artistic director. “Giving students elevated language and complex narratives instills a certain amount of trust in our student performers – and we’ve found that when we give them challenges, they rise to the occasion!”
“Orlando” is currently playing in conjunction with “Treasure Island.” The cast is mainly made up of tweens. Both productions are part of the Traveling Players’ various ensembles. The company trains students between nine and 18 during the school year and through various summer camps.
“In the winter, we perform classic books, often already on their school reading lists, that have been adapted into plays,” said Harrison. “Our goal is to get kids interested in reading these books by “meeting” the characters and connecting to their journeys. We choose plays that are not only age-appropriate for our students but also appropriate for families to bring their children too.”
The Traveling Players will perform “Orlando” at 7 p.m. and “Treasure Island” at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $16 online and $20 at the door. Give yourself plenty of time to park and find the theater. The Traveling Players Theater is at Tysons Corner Mall. The closest entrance to the theater is near Macy’s.
Traveling Players Studio
Tysons Corner Center – D1L
1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons, VA 22102
P.O. Box 1315
Great Falls, VA 22066
