WARNINGS AND CONSEQUENCES
For the cast and crew, bringing four challenging plays by O’ Neill to the Drama Studio was a theatrical challenge creating a lasting Sixth Form memory
The Lower Sixth production, Warnings and Consequences, was one of the most striking productions I’ ve performed in, and one of the most memorable experiences of Sixth Form life for me and fellow cast and crew members.
The production consisted of four one-act plays written in the 1910s by Eugene O’ Neill, a playwright known for bringing social realism to American theatre, and considered by many to be the father of modern American drama. Before Breakfast followed the narrative of Mrs Rowland talking to her off-stage husband Alfred, and served as a reflection of poverty and unmet aspirations. Warnings followed the narrative of James Knapp, his wife, their marital conflict, his children, and then his job as a ship’ s wireless operator, when he then discovers that he has gone deaf. Lastly, Fog and Thirst were stories of two separate boats after a shipwreck, conveying the themes of hope( they survive) and the brutality of gruelling survival
( they don’ t) respectively. The production was staged in the Drama Studio in the round.
All this could not have been done without the perseverance of the multi-talented cast. Striving towards a common goal really bonded us, and I am proud to say that I made some lifelong friends along the way. Working on the production was, of course, exhausting, but more importantly highlighted a balance that I had to achieve in my schedule. Grinding for the IB and keeping up with rehearsals was hard work, and I always felt so productive after finishing all my schoolwork, despite rehearsals on top of school in the day. Personally, it was tough but rewarding getting into my character’ s psyche and adopting his emotional arc, because of his psychological depth and multi-dimensionality. This challenged me as an actor and I loved the fact that I was encouraged to step out of my comfort zone.
On behalf of the whole company, I’ d like to thank our Lower School lighting technicians; Brendan, for overseeing them; Isabella, our wonderful stage manager; the Drama department, and most importantly, Ms Wessels, our director, for being so patient with us every step of the way. Warnings and Consequences is a production I will not be forgetting any time soon, and has set a hopeful precedent for the opportunities to come at Sevenoaks.
Ranieh Chan, Lower Sixth
40 DRAMA REVIEW