Barbara Lawlor, Nederland. Nederland Elementary School teachers Rebecca Vosteen and Corrie Beavineau took members of their fourth grade classes on a journey last semester; a journey that culminated in a production of Gulliver’s Travels, a classic story written by Jonathan Swift.
The fourth graders learned how to speak the somewhat formal lines naturally, to act the parts, rather than just recite the words. Most of them were robust in their presentations, having a good time with their bravado and humor.
Gulliver’s Travels recounts the story of Lemuel Gulliver, a practical-minded Englishman, a surgeon whose business fails so he decides to travel, and in doing so experiences many adventures. The first is in the land of Lilliput when his ship wrecks and he wakes up tied with threads by tiny people who are afraid of him. Their arrows are pinpricks.
Gulliver is taken to the capital and presented to the emperor. They get along and Gulliver becomes a hero used by the army in a war against the Blefuscu.
Circumstances change and Gulliver is convicted of treason and condemned to be shot and stabbed to death. But he escapes, repairs the boat and heads to England where he reunites with his wife and family for two months. Gulliver can’t sit still and he heads off into the world to discover a land of giants. He is sold to the Queen to amuse her and the court. He is repulsed by the ignorance of the people and begins to seek wisdom more than adventure.
After two more journeys, Gulliver returns home enlightened by his experiences with humans.
Gulliver is intelligent and well-educated but his perceptions are naive. He does not think the absurd situations he finds himself in are funny. The story is riddled with satire, and actors Ruby Gustafson and Mason Ivey both excelled in their parts, showing they understood the underlying theme of the story.
The narrators step up and keep the audience informed of the plot. They were: Sierra Tomlinson, Eliza Brundege, Ben Weber, Drew Hertzfeld, Griffin Petrovich-Jones and Beatrix Fowers.
Each location that Gulliver reaches has its own cast of characters. The Lilliputians included Charlie Davis, Liam Robertson, Halle Peiffer, Leo Filippello, Perrine Breche, Colton Crapsey and Ezra Leary.
The Emporer’s Court included: Nigel Worthington, Jace Thurston, Jesse Martin and Muhammad Czeponis.
The Blufuscuns were: Tatum Vernon, Karissa Lamb and Sierra Tomlinson.
The English Citizens: Sierra Tomlinson, Tatum Vernon and Corbin O’Rourke.
Gulliver’s Wife: Reya Levy
Gulliver’s children: Olive Shrum, Yamilet Flores, Devynn Bulger and Liona Mites.
The Giant’s Farmer: Leo Filipprlo; Giant’s Wife: Tatum Vernon; Giant’s son: Tler Goodnow; Giant’s Baby: Riley Higgins; Page: Muhammad Czeponis; Queen of Brobdingnag: Abigail Hess; Queen’s Dwarf: Beatrix Fowers; Pirate Captain: Abigail Hess; King: Avery Monroe Kelly; Lord Mundi: Silas McQueen; Buccaneers: Abigail Hess, Ben Weber and Drew Hertzfeld.
Horses included: Ezra Leary Colton Crapsey, Zinervra Creapeau-Juiseth and Eliza Brundege.
The Laptops include: Jace Thurston, Jesse Martin, Liam Robertson and Charlie Davis.
Sailors: Arrberli Boudreaux; Gary Koziel; Luke Ulmer; Melanie Hill and Indio Koontz.
Many of the actors played multiple roles.
Organizing the sets and costumes and directing the show is a huge commitment, and once again, the production spotlighted the amazing talent and potential of these young actors. Being able to be a part of this project will enable them to easily step on any stage they want to be on, to have the confidence to stand in front of an audience and be the character they are playing.
Congratulations to the cast and the directors and the all of the people who supported the show.
(Originally published in the January 11, 2018 print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
