The aesthetic of a Star Trek episode, coupled with the drama of a soap opera, encapsulated by the beautiful sounds of a Broadway musical, can all be found in the most recent production by the Theatre Program of Saint Leo University. The production, “Return to the Forbidden Planet” is the latest in the litany of stage performances under the theatre department’s repertoire. Representing only the second play this academic year, the team, under the direction of Rebekah Lane, has outdone previous year’s performances with strong stage performances, emotion- drawing music, and effective use of space.
Lane who has been with Saint Leo for just about a year said of the group, “The students in the Saint Leo Theatre program are full of enthusiasm and potential. It’s incredible how much energy they have! It has been especially exciting to watch them discover their characters, because once they start to feel confident in a direction, they start to make surprising and interesting choices. It’s especially wonderful to see how the group bands together to support each other and the show. The theatrical rehearsal process takes a lot of time, and this group of students made a strong effort to maintain their commitments.”
The play is based loosely on Shakespeare’s piece The Tempest and the 1956 sci-fi film, “The Forbidden Planet.” A dense layer of defamiliarization engulfs this production as the play sheaths familiar themes of love, power based corruption, and hubris into an act for the ages.
As always, the Theatre Program has amalgamated students at different academic levels and diverse levels of experiences which have proven to be a source of strength for the department. Sports business major and junior Vincent Pensabene, portrays the lead role in the production as Captain Tempest who we learn to be a man of intense emotions.
Pensabene brings the character to life through his tall stature and deep commitment to the role and lends to the character an insurmountable personality. As the leader of the crew, Tempest’s responsibility is to all crew members, providing counsel, affirmation, and direction. The beauty of this production is derived even more as colorful characters are added into the mix, who include Emily Kochanski (Science Officer), John Feiler (Dr. Prospero), Katie Huettel (Miranda), Alexa Klein (Ariel), and Anthony Fontana (Cookie) to name a few.
Each character has a personality within their character arc, supplemented by the individual actors that enhance the grandeur of this mosaic. Strengthening the group’s melodic performance was a small musical ensemble which included Inna Karotkevich whose keyboard accompaniment continued to swell the hearts of the crowd. This added another layer to performances as tension, excitement, and a few sound effects were added to the mix.
Sophomore and biology/biomedical science major, Shannon Lynch, was enthralled with her first experience at Blackbox Theatre. Lynch stated, “This was an awesome experience, I didn’t expect the acting to be so good, and the music was amazing.”
Classical compositions of songs were played with an extra flare relative to the material of the dramaturgy which included “Shake Rattle and Roll,” “It’s a man’s world,” and the crowds favorite, “Great Balls of Fire.” The range of Saint Leo’s students underscores the sheer talent being harnessed and cultivated in the theatre department.
The hubris of Dr. Prospero, the curiosity of Miranda, and the wanton heart of Cookie reflected the innate image of the audience as several of them could be heard whispering personal experiences during the intermission.
When questioned about the process leading up to Showtime Lane said, “We began rehearsals for “Return to the Forbidden Planet” during the last week of the fall semester. We met, handed out scripts and music, and discussed the show.
Over the winter break, students learned lines and music independently. On Jan. 12 we began our weekly rehearsals. We worked on this show five days each week for five weeks. In each rehearsal we worked on singing, dance moves, and character development.
The cast and support team have shown themselves as a viable source of entertainment and inspiration to the Saint Leo community through their renditions.
Lane encourages audiences, “This play is an exciting, multi-media, science fiction adventure. If you are familiar with Shakespeare, you will appreciate the ridiculous mis-quotes and references. If you are a fan of old science fiction movies, you will appreciate the style of the show and the video sprinkled throughout the performance. If you enjoy rock tunes from the 50’s and 60’s, this Jukebox musical will keep your toes tapping with variations on classics including “Great Balls of Fire” and “Teenager in Love,” all supported by a live, on-stage band.”
There are still multiple opportunities to enjoy the production which will continue March 2 at 7:30 p.m., March 3 at 2p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and March 4 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free to the event however if you would like to give a donation to the program it would be much appreciated.
