Young Critics

Have you ever read a brilliant novel and later seen an attempt made to create it into a ﬁlm? Most of the time when you witness this, you probably feel like the movie demolished the piece of writing, nothing is how it should be. This is most likely due to the fact that when we read something, our minds venture to create a vivid picture of each character and event. So, we each end up with an idea of how the novel, book, or play should appear when we turn it into a physical performance. Somehow though, Delaware Theatre Company managed to do just the opposite for their production of “Master Harold...and the Boys.” This performance brought to life the characters and action of the play just as I had imagined when I read the play in an anthology.

As the stage lights came up and the characters appeared on stage, I recalled the very dramatic, yet simplistic description Fugard used in his play, and somehow saw everything that my own mind had created right up on the stage. After taking in the very detailed scenery designed just as Athol Fugard would want by Michael Phillipi, I was quick to take note of the costumes. Maintaining the simplicity presented in the scenery, the costumes created by Murell Horton ﬁt splendidly well with the entire play. The costumes could be noticed, but didn’t distract from the action of the play. The sound also ﬁt just as well into the plot. Fabian Obispo did a nice job of choreographing the music and sound into each of the scenes. While I don’t recall and of the speciﬁc songs or them making any huge impact on my view of the play, I ﬁnd this to be okay. There was no music playing while I was reading the play, so this just added a nice emotional undertone to the story and helped move the plot along.

In my personal opinion, the actors played their part very well. Although, I felt as if there was some sort of an issue relaying the playwright’s message. I believe Mr. Fugard wanted to share with the world the things he had experience and witnessed going on in the world around him, and wanted to share a timeless message with us. This message being, not to hurt the ones who really care about you and to not let the true appreciation of someone be determined, lessened, or obstructed by the worlds view of by something as unimportant as skin color. He was showing us that if we simply wanted something we may or may not achieve it, not until we learn to ﬂoat smoothly on this world that is a dance ﬂoor – we’ll just keep bumping into obstacles and people around us. The actors showed this message fairly well, if you were willing to accept that you are not in the middle of the action. For the majority of the play, I struggled with the feeling that I was merely looking through a window of the tea shop. Thus, it took some time to translate the message into a personal understanding. This was probably the only downside I noticed throughout the entire performance. Richard Corley, the director, did a great job of preparing a magniﬁcent piece of writing and making it into to a great show. I just wish that somehow the actors’ connection with the audience could have been elevated, and the audience could have felt the story, rather than just listen and see it through the tea shop’s window.