Curse, comfort, conjure; three words that Director Lee Conderacci uses in her “feminist practice and in her theatre art.” (words directly from Conderacci.) This time her artistic undertaking is Kaela Mei-Shing Garvin’s High School Coven, at The Strand Theater. Three words that individually bring forth a myriad of thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Three words that together allow us to see the world through the eyes of Conderacci, even for a brief two hours; and that is a good thing.
CURSE. With all due respect to the playwright, I found this piece to be an obstacle unto itself. For me it seemed to be struggling to get out of its own way and never let the characters develop. A lot seemed forced, and the fluidity just wasn’t there. At one point a graduate of the high school, now pet shop manager, joins the high school coven. We don’t know how long ago she graduated but the current students are surprised to find out that their principal was her principal. It doesn’t get any easier to figure out with all of the actors (aside from the principal) being beyond their college years. Perhaps College Coven would aid in the suspension of disbelief.
COMFORT. Conderacci can take solace in her cast. She has assembled a talented group that gets the most they can out of the script. Tatiana Nya Ford (Trina) rides an emotional roller coaster and has you feeling like you are in the car with her. Her brilliant display of emotions run the gambit and have you drawn into her life. Ford’s performance is noteworthy and simply magical. Libby Kim (Naomi), Jess Rivera (Rachel), and Nichemat Judith Saroff “NJ” (Lina) round out the coven. Kim and Rivera deliver a strong performance and offer several moments of comedic relief. Their timing is near perfect, and they beautifully balance out the somberness of the material.
In the performance that I saw Saroff was on point. They delivered their lines with a sureness of Ken Jennings giving a Final Jeopardy answer. I’ll take they were amazing for $500 please, Alex. As with most groups of friends there is always the one who is levelheaded and pseudo-leader. Saroff plays this part as if it is really who they are. By far the most believable character in the show. Each of the coven deliver a small monologue to share a little about their background and their trauma. I felt that the show needed more of this. I want to feel a connection with the actors. Despite the lack of development, this group deserves a pat on the back.
Greta Boeringer (Principle Oversham) is not to be overlooked. If you have ever dealt with any administrative bureaucrat, you’ll find her performance is dead on. Boeringer is a pleasant new surprise to The Strand and I look forward to her next performance. Rounding out the cast is Betse Lyons (Shopgirl). Lyons shows that she is the master of the deadpan. Her choice of dialect and deliverance were straight out of the valley. She could do a whole one person show with the character she created.
While technically not part of the on-stage team, Projections Designer Chris Uehlinger once again puts a bow on the production. His imaginative projections add so much to the show. I especially enjoyed the homage to the Power Rangers. Uehlinger is developing quite an impressive resume as word gets out of his sensational talent.
CONJURE. For me, this is the most relatable. I’m not speaking of the set mystically conjured up by Amy Rhodes. It works beautifully in all its simplicity. I’m not speaking of the costumes meticulously designed by Conderacci, Aria Mairin, and Erin Riley. Nor am I speaking of the fun props designed by Aniya Robinson. Instead, I prefer to see things through the eyes of Conderacci. Eyes that say, “We imagine ways forward from….”. That being the collective we, as Conderacci so eloquently points out. The real work starts with I. What am I going to tolerate? What do I stand for or against? What am I going to do?! Ask yourself, “Where do I fit in?”, and then join the coven.
Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission
High School Coven plays through February 12, 2023 at the Strand Theater, 5426 Harford Rd in the Hamilton-Lauraville neighborhood of Baltimore, MD. Tickets are available by calling the box office at (443) 874-4917 or in advance online.
