At the entrance to the theater!

Tenant of Wildfell Hall:  Play Review

(Based on“Tenant of Wildfell Hall”, by Anne Brontë)

My first few steps into the Frederic Wood Theater were definitely not how I imagined them to be.  I was amazed by the beautiful modern design of the theater and impressed by the number of people who had come, but mostly, I was shocked at the fact that I had been betrayed. There I was, standing in a black skirt with tights and a black jacket, flanked by two middle aged men wearing t-shirts and shorts. As always, I was in a rush to finish eating dinner while cramming in some study time for my biology test the following day, and I was worried that I hadn’t dressed formally enough. Much to my surprise, I was far from being the most casually dressed at the event. In fact, it even felt a bit awkward at times when I was caught in the middle of an older, informally dressed crowd. On the other hand, it was also fun to compare fashion choices with my classmates and transform into adults for the night.

To be honest, I didn’t think that I would enjoy the play very much. There were quizzes and test that (I thought) I would much rather be studying for, and I hadn’t slept well the previous night. That being said, the chances of enjoying the night were slim, right? Wrong. The intriguing plot of the play paired with the incredible acting skills of th

e performers lead to a captivating performance. I thought that the props they used to set the scene were very effective. From the way that the actors confidently moved around the stage, a simple switch from chairs to paintings was enough to make the change in setting very believable. The giggling, gossiping ladies were similar in that they were clearly supposed to be a light hearted component of the play, yet each of them had their own unique personalities that set each one of them apart. They wore long, flamboyant dresses with wide bonnets, which made them appear as though they were floating. The real surprise came when Helen Graham, the main character of the play, glided gracefully into the “sea of ladies” like a black swan. She seemed to be the epitome of elegance, and she fit the image of a strong female character very well. Undoubtedly the most talented and cutest actor in the play was Helen’s son. I was completely amazed at how well the boy was able to remember his lines. It was as though he had learned his character so well that he wasn’t acting anymore, but being himself.

The night was full of pleasant surprises and happy moments. I had no idea that I would enjoy the play as much as I did. When I got home, I recommended that my mom should go watch it the next day, but she settled on reading the book by Anne Brontë instead. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, and the experience of attending a play with my classmates.