Scared Hearts brings tale of zombies to life
Show #22: Night of the Living Dead Where: Sacred Heart High School Director: Student Nicholas Roque
Kinemortophobia is the fear of zombies. However, when combined with a devoted and skilled cast and an adept crew, the undead become just another part of cultivating a brilliant show. Ask Sacred Heart High School’s cast and crew, who shuffled deftly through a charming tale about the end of the world.
Based on the 1960s zombie horror film, Night of the Living Dead tells the story of a mismatched group of survivors who find themselves hiding out in an abandoned house by a graveyard in the face of an impending apocalypse. When tempers start to run short, encroaching undead start to threaten the integrity of their hideout, a rather nasty bite-mark raises concerns, and with the local newscast cheerily explaining in detail the nature of their situation, the band of unfortunate souls must put aside their differences and work together in order to escape.
Leading the band of involuntary house guests, or at least trying to, was the headstrong Beth, played by Daniella Atkinson. Atkinson embraced her character’s no-nonsense personality through passionate emotional outbursts that established a real connection. Her powerful stage presence both commanded attention in a given scene and was also integral in accentuating the other characters’ individual personalities and actions. Overall, Atkinson’s acting was spectacular, and her strong performance made for a captivating experience.
In contrast to Beth’s intensity, the Newscast, played by Margaret Noble and Tori Whitworth, injected a refreshing dose of whimsy to the dreary postapocalyptic setting. Their timing was exceptional throughout the performance and their subtle banter was always delightful. Perhaps even more impressive though, was the way that Noble and Whitworth were consistently in character, even when not the focus of the scene. With the spotlight nowhere near them, the pair could still be seen antagonizing one another with hilarious mannerisms and whispered taunts. Bearing witness to their relationship was simply extraordinarily fun.
Of course, it wouldn’t be much of a zombie story without zombies, and of zombies there were plenty. Decked out in marvellous costumes and fantastically convincing makeup, the omnipresent shamblers remained convincing throughout the play. As they moved slowly through empty space left by a pleasantly minimalist set and into the audience, they were legitimately scary, and the fact that they remained in character, onstage and otherwise, added a level of immersion that delivered the delightful thrill of a genuine horror movie.
The play was directed by Nicholas Rocque, who made several praiseworthy creative decisions in this production. At the top of the list was his phenomenal use of space, from the ambient movement of the zombies to the use of the seating area as a second stage for the newscast scenes, which provided for exceedingly smooth transitions.
He also demonstrated an astounding attention to detail, as every actor in view was always in character, even when they hadn’t been introduced yet. There were also constant, subtly executed makeup and costume alterations as the events of the story unfolded. Simply put, Rocque expertly eliminated all distractions and crafted a most enjoyable experience.
Sacred Heart’s cast and crew breathed new life into the old cult classic with a beguiling production filled with disciplined and strong acting, masterful directing, and truly exhilarating creativity. They proved beyond question that teamwork always works, except perhaps in horror stories. Next review: St. Francis Xavier High School’s production of The Girl in the Mirror. Follow the Cappies on Twitter @ OttawaCappies.