Starting the Theater Season Right: An Honest Review of JAC’s Production of Tuck Everlasting
By Cyata Ntigurirwa
Staff Writer
To kick off the new school year, the theater program chose to put on the novel turned musical Tuck Everlasting. The production ran late October. It was the perfect whimsical choice to close the spooky season.
Admittedly, I expected a flamboyant musical when I sat down to view the play. However, instead of being underwhelmed by the humble rendition of the beloved children’s novel, I was amazed by the simple and cutting interpretation.
Notably, the set was beautiful, with the main setting being a forest, including a patterned ombre sky, trees, and echoes of real forests, which were personified as fairies who narrated the story through poems. Their almost sing-song-y voices replaced the songs and added a more contemplative tone to the story.
Moreover, the costumes were incredible. They were equal parts humble and flamboyant. The clothes both emphasized the childish naivety of the young Winnie Foster, and the calculated evil nature of the villain.
It became clear to me throughout the action that this interpretation of the novel wasn’t exactly intended for a young audience. Though there wasn’t crude language or themes, the themes presented were serious and tough to grasp. Ideas of mortality and death were presented throughout the narrative and shown creatively through dialogues (I’m recalling the beautiful dialogue on the boat between Winnie and Angus). However, these themes being explored through the lens of a young girl made them accessible to the younger viewers. It was a bittersweet mix of serious subject matter and light-hearted comedy.
This play was not entirely serious, however. There were many laughs due to cross-dressing (Granny and the Sheriff come to mind), and the naivety of the protagonist afforded many hilarious moments of irony. Interestingly, the dynamic between the protagonist and her love interest also incited teasing and laughter from the crowd (Winnie’s “He’s so beautiful!” refrain became the punchline of the evening). This relationship left the audience deeply invested in the narrative.
Unexpectedly, the play touched my heart. The closing scene, with its vagueness and simplicity, left the crowd and I to ponder the suggested idea: there’s no living without dying. I found this message comforting, with the philosophical undertones of the play inspiring to me. Surely, we can expect other productions like this one to come out of our campus soon? With JAC’s insanely talented actors in our theater program, I am absolutely sure that the next one will be amazing too!