This year marks the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death.
Vernon Secondary School theatre students are finding out the Bard’s work is still meaningful and relevant today by presenting two one-act plays, collectively titled Love and Loss, next week.
“Love and Loss is a production that my students have been working on over the last few months,” said VSS drama teacher Laurie Anne Lorge.
The first play, Small Actors, is a comedy that deals with the tangled web we weave when we practise to deceive.
Emily, a high school student, lies to her parents about getting the lead in her school’s production of Romeo and Juliet.
“The play deals with the way that art can make us present in our lives and help us come to terms with loss and forgiveness,” said Lorge.
The second play, conceived by Lorge, is a mash up of the Biblical verse from a letter to St. Paul to the Corinthians (Love is patient…) and famous Shakespearean plays that deal with each aspect of love.
“What makes this play really unique is the way two of my students have written music for each scene and perform it live as the scene unfolds. It is really beautiful,” said Lorge.
Love and Loss runs for two nights only, Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at VSS’s Theatre on the Hill. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased at the door.