If I may start on a personal note, I have loved theater for as long as I can remember. The crisp script, the blinding lights, I love it all. The point being, I am a lover of the arts, and fortunately for me, with this new year comes a new slate of plays to the Blacksburg Theater Department.
I say slate, but really it’s only two: Puffs as the school play, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane as our competition one-act.
Puffs is a parody of Harry Potter, focusing on a similar-to-Hogwarts-but-legally-distinct magical school for children. “It has a good message in it, as well as humor, and I think it could draw audience members of all ages,” said head of the theater, Ms. Emily Gruver, in a brief interview conducted by yours truly this Monday. “It’s very fast paced, which I like, and it’s also going to be a challenge for our tech team [...] I love movement. [...] Sometimes, especially with people that are starting out in theater, it’s really hard to get up and speak in front of a group of people, but I feel like it’s easier to get up and move and portray a character that way, so I always really look for movements in your character...”
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is the years-long odyssey of a china rabbit, the amazing places he goes, and the miraculous people whose paths he crosses. “When I pick a show, I kind of look at it as, like, ‘How are we gonna do it? What is our interpretation?’ and if it’s something that we’re gonna be proud of, and I think [Edward Tulane] is something we’re gonna be proud of...” Based on the award-winning novel of the same name, Edward Tulane will be performed as the school’s upcoming competition one-act.
Some of you may be wondering what the term “competition one-act” refers to? It’s a competition between a group of high schools for who can put on the better show. It will be backbreaking (not really) labor and months of tedious preparation, all leading up to the final showdown between schools.
The room hums with energy, the crowd stares in nervous attention, and when all is said and done, only one show can win. Will it be Blacksburg High School? “I don’t know, I hope so!” said Ms. Gruver, a smile on her face.
Puffs is set to premiere on December 13th-16th, and the one act competition will be held on November 9th. Keep an eye out for these, and any of the other showcases, of our talented fine arts department!
Written by Miles Johnson.
Photography by Adeline Elder.
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