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West Shore School News is a presentation of West Shore Educational Service District in partnership with Mason County Press.
LUDINGTON — The Ludington High School Drama Club will present Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” Thursday, Nov. 14, Friday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16 at L.F. Peterson Auditorium.
“Fahrenheit 451 degrees is the temperature at which paper ignites,” said Christine Plummer, director. “With simple sets and uncomplicated staging, this powerful drama is about the inner struggle of Guy Montag, a fireman. Montag has worked as a civil servant for 10 years burning books, but lately he has become increasingly unsure about what he is doing and about his vegetable-like existence.
“It is not until he meets 16-year-old Clarisse, who is filled with strange ideas, that he is led into a dangerous and highly combustible situation. Now he must choose between continuing his nonexistent existence and risking everything for the right to think. It’s set in a future society where books are banned, and ‘firemen’ burn any that are discovered.
“The most prominent theme in ‘Fahrenheit 451’ centers around the desire for knowledge and individuality in a society that expects ignorance and conformity. In the dystopian setting of the story, society has come to reject knowledge in favor of a passive life of ignorance and the certainty that comes with conformity.
“‘Fahrenheit 451’ is Ray Bradbury’s message to humanity about the importance of knowledge and identity in a society that can so easily be corrupted by ignorance, censorship, and the tools designed to distract from the realities of our world.
“I’ve specifically chosen to perform this play in the style of readers theatre. It is important for me to focus on this play as a piece of literature. Thus, putting the emphasis on ‘reading.’ I’ve also decided to add projected images and sound effects to help enhance the audience’s experience. I feel it’s equally important to expose students to new and different ways to perform a play. It’s been a wonderful learning opportunity.”
Plummer said readers theatre means there is no memorization, costumes, props, or sets are needed. “Movement is minimal and scripts are held by the readers throughout the performance. Instead of acting out literature as in a play, the performers’ goal is to read a script aloud effectively, enabling the audience to visualize the action, while still creating believable characters.”
Showtimes Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $5 general admission. The play is recommended for ages 13 and up.
Cast
NARRATOR – Matilda Nasson
GUY MONTAG – Jerry Thomas
BEATTY – Lauren Rieman
CLARISSE – Alisha Vaquera
MILDRED – Andrea Blankinship
FABER/ROBERT LEWIS STEVENSON – Julia Ostberg
MRS. HUDSON – Emma Eaton
BLACK/PLATO/MAN’S VOICE – Simon Wickham
HOLDEN/TOLKEIN – Riley Harold
ALICE/LEWIS CARROLL – Kristi Killips
HELEN/TOLSTOY – Vanessa Madl
FIRST PARAMEDIC – Gabe Hill
SECOND PARAMEDIC/ROSTAND – August Riley
ARISTOTLE/CLOCK VOICE – Amy Jivakanon
ANNOUNCER/TV VOICE/BRONTE – Liz Thibault
ST. EXUPEREY/LAWYER VOICE/PHONE VOICE – Lis Monson
ALARM VOICE/FAMILY MOTHER VOICE/MELVILLE – Brooke Nelson
NEWS VOICE/SHAKESPEARE – Katie Pomeroy
DOSTOEVSKI/FEMALE VOICE – Scarlet O’Hearn
STAGE MANAGER – Sydney Kiessel
LIGHTS – Stephanie Davis
SOUND – Amelia Hatch & Spencer Blankinship
RUNNING CREW – Isabella Sanderson
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