The Student News Site of Beverly Hills High School

Highlights

The Student News Site of Beverly Hills High School

Highlights

Highlights

Follow Us on Twitter
Follow Us on Twitter

Star Trek mixed with Shakespeare: “Pericles” brings new sense of adventure

Stellar+acting%2C+notably+by+duo+Solomon+Margo+%28far+right%29+and+Mani+Ashkenazi+%28left%29%2C+propelled+%E2%80%9CPericles%E2%80%9D+forward.+Photo+by%3A+LAUREN+AVIRAM
Stellar acting, notably by duo Solomon Margo (far right) and Mani Ashkenazi (left), propelled “Pericles” forward. Photo by: LAUREN AVIRAM

Max Yera co-editor-in-chief
The Theater Arts Workshop (TAW) concluded their first production of the year this past Saturday with the final performance of “Pericles.”
The show was a Star Trek adaptation of the Shakespearean play, a combination which created a notably unique experience for both actors and audiences.
“‘Pericles’ was certainly a unique choice for a play, and so it was inherently different from past shows at Beverly,” senior Owen Lloyd, who starred as Antiochus and Simonides, said. “Though I’m not typically one for modern adaptations of Shakespeare, I have to give the Star Trek twist credit for being more experimental than past productions at the school.”
The play was also the first production by TAW’s new director, Karen (Kaz) Chandler.
“I love Kaz. She’s understanding and caring, and has really taken over the theatre department with her charisma and kindness,” junior Daniel Kohanbash, who played Helicanus, said. “She genuinely cares about the success and well being of this program, and that is what’s going to make our department successful in the future.”
The chemistry among cast members was a notable bright spot, particularly between seniors Owen Lloyd and Nicole Neighbors.
“Nicole [Neighbors] played my incestrual daughter, and she happens to be my girlfriend, so we were able to employ some method acting,” Lloyd said.
The acting by junior duo Solomon Margo, who starred as Pericles, and Daniel Kohanbash was also exemplary, and both contribute their success in part to the contributions of their new director.
“Kaz goes beneath the surface level of acting, so to speak, something I never really had the opportunity of doing thus far,” Margo said. “I saw improvement in myself, being able to tackle a large amount of lines, and I’ve seen so much growth already in my peers as they become more comfortable with one another and start to explore below the surface level of acting.”
To some disappointment, there was not great variation in terms of sets, but that was offset by this impressive, “beneath the surface” style of acting.
Beyond the performance value or chemistry between actors, “Pericles” should be praised for its unique method of using adventurous space themes from Star Trek in order to tell a Shakespearean drama.
“I definitely admire the creativeness and risk-taking that was incorporated into this play,” senior Nicole Neighbors, who played both Dionyza and Hesperides, said. “Whether or not we pulled it off is up to individual opinion, but it was a unique experience that I was glad to have regardless.”
The play was filmed and can be viewed here.

Story continues below advertisement
Leave a Comment
Donate to Highlights
$0
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Beverly Hills High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to Highlights
$0
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All Highlights Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *