By Mark Ambrogi
En garde, trading puns at 40 paces.
The Carmel High School theater department students have embraced the comedy challenge of “The Beaux’ Stratagem.” The show’s performers will display their sword fight skills on Nov. 13 through Nov. 15 in the high school’s Studio Theater.
“The stage combat is a lot of fun with the sword fighting,” senior Austin Jacobs said.
Senior Kristin Barnes, who plays Dorinda, is enjoying the physical comedy.
“There’s an interesting fight sequence where our love interests come in to save the day,” Barnes said. “They end up having trouble doing so and so we step in and say, ‘let the ladies show you how it’s done.’ It’s fun.”
Junior Haley Glickman loves her character, Mrs. Kate Sullen.
“She’s really cool,” she said. “She is the embodiment of a strong woman. The cool part is her love interest really likes her for that. I love the script.”
The play, a Restoration (period from 1660 to 1710 after the British monarchy was restored) comedy, was writhed by George Farquhar and first performed in 1707. It was adapted by Ken Ludwig in 2004 at the request of Thornton Wilder’s estate. Wilder had not finished his adaptation he started decades earlier.
“The thing that I love about the show is there is always so much going on but not so much that it’s confusing,” Barnes said. “There’s never a dull moment on the stage.”
A fight choreographer has helped the actors spar with the swords, which are not sharpened.
“There’s a lot of specific technique to it that you don’t understand when you are watching it on TV,” Barnes said.
The performers had a few rehearsals simulating the sword fighting before getting the actual metal props.
“Safety first,” Glickman said.
Like Glickman, sophomore Jessie Ballard is a fan of her character, too.
“This is definitely most outrageous character I’ve played,” Ballard said. “I get to be huge on stage and not have to worry about pulling focus because that’s what she is there for to a degree. She’s very over-the-top and doesn’t care which I love. It’s what’s fun about Restoration (theater) because she’s so sure of herself.”
Senior Duncan Moran said this is his 10th high school production and this has been his favorite role to play.
“Mostly because I have that interaction with the audience and play with the fourth wall every once in awhile,” Moran said.
This is the 12th production Barnes has been in at the high school so she has performed several times in the Dale E. Graham Auditorium and studio theater, which will seat about 200 for this play.
“I have love for both,” Barnes said of the theaters. “When you have a studio theater, you have more liberties to take with the stage. Our director and technical head design a different set for every show. It allows more creative license. You can be more intimate with your audience and make different choices than you have to make on the main stage.”
Jim Peterson, the high school’s theater and film department director and play director, said the play has a lot of puns and shows cynicism toward marriage.
“They’ve embraced it for the wacky silliness that it is,” Peterson said.
There will be shows at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 13, 14 and 15 and a 2 p.m. show on Nov. 15. Tickets are on sale at ticketracker.com. Tickets are $10.
