AP students journey to woods for existential howl
Two eyes and at least 10 lives were lost at the American Players Theater on September 25 as student faces turned a grimy pale in appreciative response. West’s AP Literature class took their annual trip to APT, enjoying a day in the outside theater and indulging in the classic, King Lear.
As gory scenes filled the quiet of nature, senior Allison Borgmann fought hard against queasy impulses.
“I would give my experience a 10/10,” she said. “I’m not good with blood, but when they ripped Gloucester’s eyes out, it was really realistic looking and cool.”
The day started with a short hike up to the amphitheater, where students could relish in the crisp fall weather. The five act play started promptly at 10:00 a.m., giving the teenagers an opportunity to shake off their sleepy schoolbus-daze. Not only was the day an entertaining experience but also a thought provoking and beneficial one.
“It helped me gain a deeper understanding,” Borgmann said. “There’s a huge difference between seeing it and reading it. The play helped portray the emotions that you can’t always pick up on a page.”
Borgmann has attended other live Shakespeare performances, but this one was different.
“They put on a great show,” she said. “Compared to other ones I’ve seen, they used the music really well.”
Up until the field trip, junior Henry Bongers had not been exposed to live Shakespeare.
“I’ve never even seen a Shakespeare play or read anything Shakespeare,” he said. “I’m a visual learner and I’m glad I got to see it first as opposed to reading it.”
Even without full familiarity, Bongers still knows the paramount importance of live performances in Shakespearean culture.
“In the olden days, they would have experienced it as a play so I think it’s good we got to see it portrayed,” he said. “My favorite part would have to be when the sisters were arguing over their suitor.”
Students can choose to participate in the AP exam in the spring in hopes to gain college credit. King Lear deepens their comprehension and allows them to use some of the content on essay questions. Senior Sophia Olmsted recognized this and appreciated all the play had to offer.
“King Lear, and Shakespeare in general, is really helpful to get through the class and understand more about literature,” she said. “We read a lot of literature and everyone needs to know of Shakespeare to understand a lot of allusions.”
For Olmsted, the peaceful element that nature brings allowed for a new intimacy.
“I really liked that it was outdoors,” she said. “It felt more open and enjoyable. Looking around was calm on top of watching the actors right up in person.”
On the contrary, senior Nicole Osborne nearly contracted an illness from the up close and personal experience.
“The dude almost spit on me during the fighting scene,” she said. “But it was still insanely fun being that close to live action.”
Maybe a little close for comfort, but that’s expected with an upbeat cast.
“I would say this cast is lively,” Osborne said. “I went to England over the summer and saw a Shakespeare play and it was a little harder to understand them.”
Senior GJ Zahner could tell immediately that the actors were dedicated to their work.
“It was very immersive; there was a lot of engagement,” she said. “You can tell they worked very hard to make it a good experience.”
Characters were hung, poisoned, and mutilated to the fullest extent, leaving audience jaws on the floor.
“I loved the scenes where the emotions were running high, where you can see the actors putting their all into an emotional performance,” Zahner said. “Those are the parts that hit home.”
Some students wince at the thought of analyzing Shakespeare. Zahner has acknowledged this and urges students to look past it.
“I think there’s an element in academia where it becomes a chore to dig into this kind of literature,” she said. “Especially when it can feel so impersonal but to see it put into real life and to have people bring it to life really adds a third dimension to it, and brings you into it more.”
Borgmann encourages students who are enthralled by literature to not only take the class but also catch a show.
“Go if you’re really interested in deep literature and if it’s something you enjoy,” she said. “It’s awesome to take new approaches on literary work and collaborate with people who feel the same way.”
Zahner concurs while confirming the bigger picture.
“It widens your world view and gives you perspectives you might not have had prior to,” they said. “Most of the plays and musicals I’ve seen have been put on by high schools and those are stunning, but to see it on a professional level shows how much goes into stuff like this and the importance of the arts.”
by Sophie Carlin
Published October 7 2024
Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue I