A Taste of Honey
at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Reviewed on February 8, 2014

Emilia Brennan
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

"Honey attracts more flies than vinegar" goes the age old saying. But sometimes, time manages to sour the honey we put forth. And sometimes, we can barely care for ourselves, let alone a smattering of flies. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's performance of A Taste of Honey, with just five cast members, managed to capture the unfiltered subtleties of some of life's key relationships: friend, lover, and mother.

Written by Shelagh Denaley at age 18, A Taste of Honey was originally intended as a novel, but Denaley was inspired by the "Kitchen Sink" movement of London theatre at the time and chose the stage format for final publication. Known for its depiction of radical social issues in the 1950s, bi-racial relationships, homosexuality, and class situation are all presented unapologetically throughout the plot.

Jo (Liesl Jaeger) is introduced in tandem with her mother, Helen (Jordan Goodson). The distant and unhealthy relationship between them soon becomes starkly clear. Helen is sexually indiscriminate and a neglectful mother; Jo is an unyielding and embittered daughter. Goodson took care to present Helen's every flaw, but still managed to balance her character with a sense of goodness so that the audience was never alienated. Goodson's performance was riveting; her 50s inflections and constant physical presence were cohesive and enthralling. Jaeger found clear motivations within her performance, and played a girl truly spiteful about her situation in life. Constantly railing against who her mother was, moments of eerie parallel between the two were excellently demonstrated by Jaeger.

Peter (Daniel Sainati) commanded the stage with maturity and charisma. His sordid relationship with Helen was full of believable chemistry, and Sainati presented an extremely smooth character with abusive and untrustworthy undercurrents. Boy (Anthony Carrington) was Jo's black boyfriend who "came with Christmas and left with New Year's." The two spoke of love, but Carrington didn't hide his character's obvious hunger for just one thing.

Another example of excellent chemistry was found between Geof (Jake Gonzalez) and Jo. Their relationship began as one of necessity but quickly blossomed into a lovely partnership that brought out sparks of happiness from Jo's sour demeanor. Gonzalez portrayed a man who had clearly been downtrodden (presumably for his sexual orientation) and yet, remained optimistic. His capacity for love and nurturing was visible, and gave the audience a sense of relief that he was there to help the pregnant and abandoned Jo.

The performance was situated in mock black box style, with the audience seated on stage. The heavy cinderblocks of the theatre and narrow tech stairs gave immediate reality to the tenement-style setting. Due to the close proximity of the audience, obvious care had gone into the details of props, set, and costumes. The student-created costumes were admirable, and occasional flaws only added to the overall sense of poverty.

A story that reflects the mundane reality of existence was in danger of becoming just that—mundane. However, quite the opposite, Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology successfully produced a quaint and dully painful expression of life's struggles. Because, life, well, "it has its lighter moments, but on the whole it's a pretty trying process."

Talia Brenner
Walt Whitman High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

With stark characters, flawless historical accuracy, and heart-rending emotion, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology students unmasked the stories of working-class British youth in their poignant drama, A Taste of Honey.

Written by Shelagh Delaney in 1958, A Taste of Honey was a pioneer of the "kitchen-sink" genre, a school that sought to honestly portray social issues. In accordance with kitchen-sink realism, a cast of five students performed in black-box style, with a static set and minimal technical elements. As Thomas Jefferson does not have a black-box, audiences sat on the school's proscenium stage, facing a small arena in the theater's wings. The backstage of a theater is an acoustically awkward space, but all actors used excellent projection to be consistently audible.

Jo (Liesl Jaeger) is a tragic heroine of sorts, devoting herself to various relationships—both familial and romantic—and suffering as each one ends. Jaeger effectively interpreted Jo as an immature and naïve woman; her longing glances and unconfident posture show that Jo never realizes her dreams for independence. Quite unlike her thoughtful daughter, Jo's mother, Helen, (Jordan Goodson) is a brazen, unabashed woman, almost completely indifferent to Jo's needs. Goodson's stellar portrayal was both attention-grabbing and astute, giving deep insight into a character that could easily be seen as a static villain.

Especially in the conformist atmosphere of the mid-20th century, effeminate men in literature were depicted as comic relief; A Taste of Honey's Geof, however, is a multifaceted character. Although he only appeared in the second act, Jake Gonzalez managed to show Geof's full development and to convey his many conflicting emotions regarding Jo, a fellow outcast who accepts him.

In a five-member cast, every character holds an important function in the plot. As Helen's sleazy spouse and Jo's light-hearted boyfriend, a black sailor, Daniel Sainati and Anthony Carrington, respectively, did not disappoint. Both actors used character-appropriate movements to further enhance their roles.

Technical elements, though intentionally understated, truly succeeded in establishing the play's 1950s, working-class setting. Liesl Jaeger's costumes used color to hint at character's personalities, while maintaining historically accurate silhouettes. Additionally impressive was the sheer number of student-made costumes. Yena Seo, Meena Nayagam, Abby Peterson, and Natasha Shukla intelligently kept makeup design simple, as not to appear overwhelming in a small performance space. Ally Scholle and Chris Doan's lighting design consisted of the flat's single bulb, as well as other dim lights that kept actors visible even when the flat was dark.

Although it is set over fifty years ago, A Taste of Honey shows the extent of the destructive forces of bigotry in a manner that is still painfully applicable today. Thomas Jefferson Drama students performed a production so moving that audience members will bring the play's strong call for diversity and acceptance home to their own kitchen sinks.

Sarah Santoro
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to ShowBizRadio.net

Sometimes the stark bleakness of everyday life is pierced by small moments of happiness. But it often turns out that these tastes of sweetness must be paid for in more suffering. In an emotional and believable rendition of A Taste of Honey, the cast and crew of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology brought life to this harsh reality.

Written by Shelagh Delaney, A Taste of Honey, originally intended as a novel, first opened at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Royal Stratford East in London in 1958, when Delaney was 18. It was transferred to the West End, then Broadway, and was adapted into an award-winning movie in 1961. Part of the 'kitchen sink' movement, a genre which caught wind in Britain in the 1950s and used the lives of working-class characters to explore social issues, A Taste of Honey touched on many controversial topics such as prejudice concerning race and sexual orientation and was considered a defining play of the era.

The play tells the story of a working-class mother, Helen, (Jordan Goodson) and her daughter, Jo, (Liesl Jaeger), who live in Salford England in the 1950s. When Helen marries a rich man quite a few years her junior (Daniel Sainati), Jo is left alone to fend for herself. She accepts a marriage proposal from a young black sailor (Anthony Carrington), but he soon goes to sea and leaves her alone, pregnant with his child. Jo then finds a loyal friend in Geof (Jake Gonzalez), a homosexual art student, who begins living with her and playing the role of surrogate father to Jo's unborn baby. For some time they're happy, but Helen returns to the picture, the little life that Geof and Jo have made together is thrown into question.

Goodson brought sarcastic and cynical Helen to life with a clear vision and commitment. Her stylized 1950s voice and vivid facial expressions were perfectly suited to up-close black box style performance. She subtly hinted at a softer side buried underneath Helen's usual brassy bravado as the character developed, showing an all-around interesting and layered character.

As kindhearted, earnest Geof, Gonzalez connected with the other actors on a personal level to give a sincere and authentic performance. His relationships with the other characters seemed natural and organic, especially in his friendship with Jaeger's feisty Jo, and he masterfully conveyed the weight and significance of his character and circumstances.

While some actors rushed their lines or stumbled over them at times, their commitment and believable relationships with each other kept the interactions genuine and convincing.

The realistic props transported the audience into the dingy, cramped flat. From a glass milk bottle to a vintage magazine to detailed charcoal drawings, the props added an impressive air of authenticity to the production.

The illusion of the seedy, impoverished lifestyle of the less fortunate during the 50s was further strengthened by the appropriately rundown set. A living room with a faded couch, a bedroom with a single shabby bed, and a grimy kitchen created an overall image of hardship and destitution.

In their simple, authentic performance of A Taste of Honey, the cast displayed their talent and skill with believable emotion and convincing relationships. The tech helped to create the feeling of being down on one's luck in the 1950s with skillfully executed props and set. The creativity and aptitude of the students of Thomas Jefferson High School created a truthful, powerful performance in the stripped-down look at the grittiness of real life and the trials and hardships of relationships.

Charlotte Kuhn
Bishop Ireton High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

The 1950's: a time of poodle skirts, diners, and perfect housewives. This time is a period often romanticized by the current generations. However, A Taste of Honey as performed by Thomas Jefferson School for Science and Technology shows the other, darker side of the 1950's by bringing attention to social issues such as poor living conditions, interracial love, homosexuality, and difficult family relationships.

Written by Shelagh Delany at age 18, A Taste Of Honey presents the difficult tale of a young woman experiencing troubles in 1950's England. This play was first performed in a small theatre in London in 1958, later moved to London's West End in 1959. It follows the story of Jo, an 18-year-old girl with a disastrous relationship with her single mother. As her mother leaves to marry a man for his money, Jo finds herself engaged to a black man named Jimmy in a time when interracial love was considered unacceptable. Soon, Jimmy leaves her pregnant and alone, Jo finds herself living with Geof, a homosexual man who she considers a dear friend.

Senior Liesl Jaeger took on the challenging role of Jo as well as participated in creating the show's suitable costumes. As Jo, Jaeger was both sarcastic and headstrong, creating a character for the audience to root for. Helen, her mother, was played by a fellow senior, Jordan Goodson. Goodson's take on the character of the witty, selfish mother was both memorable and captivating. Using strong body language, inflection, and facial expression, Goodson's character was conveyed beautifully to the audience. Supporting these ladies were three men. Anthony Carrington as Jimmy, a young sailor who intended to marry Jo, Daniel Sainati as Peter, Helen's rich alcoholic husband, and most notably Jake Gonzalez as Geof, a caring friend to Jo.

As for the technical aspects of the show, the audience was seated onstage in a black box setting. This allowed for an intimate and personal setting. Costumes, spearheaded by Liesl Jaeger, were primarily handmade. Although some aspects of the costumes seemed rushed and often failed to stay true to the period, the costuming team showed a worthy amount of effort. The simple set and props used throughout the production were both authentic and aided in completing the desired image. Most impressively handled was the aspect of publicity, as TJ used both social media and advertising to spread the word about their production.

Thomas Jefferson's A Taste of Honey proved to be an intimate production. What the show lacked in energy was made up for in the dramatic storyline, supported by unique characters. The technical aspects were simple yet they demonstrated admirable attention to detail. The cast showed impressive improvisation skills during the rare moments of unexpected pacing problems, despite one moment of broken character.

In conclusion, this production was both dramatic and personal, and the cast and crew did a respectable job of tackling the difficult social issues this play presented.

Irene Martinko
West Springfield HS
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Fairfax

The play may be called A Taste of Honey, but there were no bees buzzing around Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's auditorium during their impressive production. Rather, the audience was captivated by a talented cast of five who tackled such difficult themes as racism and poverty with the help of their notable acting and exciting technical choices that truly brought the show to life.

A Taste of Honey was written by the British playwright, Shelagh Delaney when she was only 18, and it is by no means a happy go lucky piece. Set in Britain in the 1950's, the play tells the story of a young, working class girl named Jo whose gold-digging mother, Helen, abandons her to live with her new rich husband, Peter. Meanwhile, Jo has a romantic relationship with a black sailor who she falls in love with. When he must leave her alone and pregnant, she has nowhere to go and no one to turn to. Jo resides with her homosexual friend, Geof, but her situation continues to complicate every step of the way. A Taste of Honey captures the essence of the 1950's by exposing the prejudices towards race and homosexuality and portraying a life of poverty, and was later made into a popular movie during the 1960's.

The school chose a unique method of portraying the show by having the audience sit on the stage, closing the curtain around them, thus turning their backstage into a makeshift black box theatre and creating an especially intimate show-watching experience that was incredibly pleasing for the audience. This, along with their strong cast brought the show to life in a completely distinctive way.

Despite the small cast, there were many noticeable strong performances brought forth in the production. Helen, played by Jordan Goodson, captured the feeling of the 1950's with her voice and her mannerisms and was markedly dynamic with noticeable development from start to finish. Geof, portrayed by Jake Gonzalez, stood out through his commitment to the character and his believability, which was emphasized by his ability to react both verbally and nonverbally to the situations surrounding him. The abusive drunk, Peter, played by Daniel Sainati, was always completely in character, adding some much needed humor to a show that was otherwise intense and emotional, but also bringing an intimidating factor to the production. Liesl Jaeger, who played the part of Jo, can be admired for tackling such a challenging role who literally never left the stage. Finally, the black sailor, played by Anthony Carrington deserves commendation for his complete believability and obvious affection for Jo. He embodied a caring and likeable character and it was understandable why Jo fell for him in the first place.

The technical elements of the show were especially exciting because of the interesting choice to use a makeshift black box theatre. The simplicity of the set with the grittiness of the wall behind it was a perfect choice for the production, and a single bare light bulb, dangling from the ceiling was the cherry on top. Despite it being slightly difficult to see if you were seated in the back, their interesting use of space and lighting brought excitement and variety to an otherwise unchanging set.

A Taste of Honey was not only an intense look into the past, but a show whose themes still resonate with audiences today, and Thomas Jefferson High School truly took on the challenge and put on a powerful production.

Emma Paquette
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Alexandria Times

The uncovered light bulb hangs starkly in the center of the cold and cramped apartment. The windows don't let much sun inside, so it all comes from this single appliance. It's hardly a place for a young girl. It's particularly not a place for a young girl carrying a baby. Yet, it's the only place she's got; the one thing that won't leave her behind. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology gave a stunning performance of the dramatic and heartrending story told in A Taste of Honey.

A Taste of Honey was written in 1958, the first play by the British dramatist Shelagh Delaney at the mere age of eighteen. The story addresses many controversial social issues for the time including race, sexuality, and class, and the success of the show would work towards the revitalization of British theatre in the mid-20th century. The story centers around a poor teenage girl named Jo, trapped in the shadow of her crass and uncaring mother, and her fruitless attempts to make her own way in the world. Yet, conflict lurks in every day, and the happy ending is nowhere in sight.

The production was led by the fantastic Liesl Jaeger as the bitter and sarcastic Jo. Her searing comments and bubbling aggression painted a sobering picture of the insecure and desperate girl trying to put one foot in front of the other. Her and her mother, Helen (Jordan Goodson), played well off of each other, illustrating the control that the older woman exerts over her daughter. Goodson was utter acidic, leeching at her daughter's rare good humors with the full-force of her disgust. Her understanding of the time period must also be commended in a cast that sometimes strayed too far into modernity. Jaeger also had great chemistry with the supportive, caring, homosexual art student Geof (Jake Gonzalez). His clear concern for her clashed with his annoyance over her horrible attitude in order to create some powerful and intense moments. Gonzalez also entirely immersed himself into the character with honest reactions and strong stage presence.

The interesting choice to set the show in a wing of the stage with the audience turned sideways to watch left the technical elements with limited space to fit a vast amount of period details. However, the crew was more than up to the task, as the tech in this production was certainly splendid. Props were almost perfectly period, showing a clear attention to detail and copious amounts of research. Handmade costumes and beat-up set pieces also helped to set the time and place of the story. The look created overall was very satisfying for the morose storyline. While lights were simplistic, the cues were perfectly timed to coincide with the switching on or off of the light bulb that lit the apartment.

The stark and unabashed portrayal of the harshness of working class life in Britain during the 1950s was certainly startling; particularly in the issues that still effect the politics of the modern world. The horrific reality of Jo and those surrounding her is not as confined to the past as some might like to believe. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology opened the audience's eyes to such a world with their memorable production of A Taste of Honey.

Yvonne Nguyen
Hayfield Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Mother-Daughter relationships are never simple, more often than not, they are complicated, maddening, and even heart-wrenching. In the 1958 play A Taste of Honey, two impossible women, a mother and daughter, struggle to survive each others' company, while both dealing with hardships of their own. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's performance of A Taste Of Honey begs the question, is a toxic relationship- even with one's mother- worth saving?

A Taste of Honey tells the tale of Jo, a stubborn and neglected teenager, jaded as a result of parental indifference. She resents her mother, Helen, and blames her for all her struggles in life. When Jo discovers she is pregnant by her African American boyfriend, who has long since left her, she must navigate the frightening journey of impending motherhood. Written by Shelagh Delaney, A Taste of Honey premiered at the Theatre Royal Stratford East in 1958. Later making its way to West End and then evolving into a film, A Taste of Honey is a refreshing addition to the trending "kitchen-sink" plays of British theatre and touches on many controversial topics, such as homosexuality and racism.

Thomas Jefferson High School took a big risk when they decided to perform this play black box style. With the audience seated on the stage, the actors performed in the wings of the auditorium. This set-up created a much more intimate setting, and allowed the audience to be further incorporated into the story of A Taste of Honey. However, this unique set-up also compromised visibility, and many of this show's ornate details were lost on the audience members sitting in the back. While the set appeared at first to be simple, upon further inspection it proved to be quite authentic and detailed. The numerous props and set pieces seemed to have been preserved from the 1950's, and the characterization from the actors helped the audience delve into Jo and Helen's eccentric lifestyle.

Geof (Jake Gonzalez) was an audience favorite, using his strong physicality and vocal characterization to fully convey his character to the audience, Gonzalez's heartfelt reactions added to the believability of the play. Another audience favorite was Helen (Jordan Goodson). Goodson's amazing facial expressions, physicality, and vocal performance made her a character that the audience loved to hate. Goodson created dynamic chemistry between her and every other character on stage, her commitment and dedication to her character was notably admirable. Liesl Jaeger portrayed a stubborn and unyielding version of Jo. Her consistent character choices and teenage demanding ways were invaluable to the success of this performance. While the vocal characterization added to the believability and time period accuracy of the show, diction and clarity was at times sacrificed, losing key lines to the play.

Thomas Jefferson's intimate performance of A Taste of Honey was an incredibly unique experience. The attention to detail and cooperation from the actors brought the audience back in time to the 1950's into Jo and Helen's very apartment. In the end, the uncommon use of space paid off, making for a sincere and touching performance of a beloved play.

Stuart Pratuch
West Springfield HS
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Have you ever witnessed everyone who loved you leave you? Have you ever seen everyone who hated you leave? Have you ever just been...abandoned, alone, and rejected as you cling to everything good in your life while it hangs like a string off a quilt. Its sweet embrace fills you and gives you strength, but the moment it breaks, you're falling...and you're never going back. So is Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's production of A Taste of Honey.

A Taste of Honey was written by Shelagh Dagley when she was 18 years old. It has been produced with very many adaptations on very many stages in both England and the United States, even making its way to Broadway in 1960. It suffered many controversial critiques due to the themes of interracial love and homosexuality as well as the pressures of low-class living that infiltrate most of the characters' lives.

The play revolves around a 17-year-old girl's life, Jo, with her mother, Helen, as well as the two men in Jo's life, Jimmy and Geof, and the rich, drunk suitor that Helen takes, Peter. The many controversial issues that the play weaves through were handled with adept strength by Thomas Jefferson's cast and crew.

The cast of five that handled this show approached it with impressive strength. Very little air retained between lines for all actors which generated a great flow. Helen, portrayed by Jordan Goodson, gave off a 1950s vibe with her voice and remained expressive with every word said around and by her. Helen also maintained a fabulous chemistry with both Peter and Geof, performed by Daniel Sainati and Jake Gonzalez respectively. Meanwhile, Sainati's drunkard role of Peter utilized every syllable he was given to his advantage, conjuring up the multiple negative emotions that arrive whenever this rich scumbag was on stage. Even further, Gonzalez's Geof commanded the stage every instant he had it with strong reactions to everyone including a phenomenonal chemistry with Jo, played by Liesl Jaeger. Gonzalez even remained constantly in character and forever a recognizable symbol of the oppression faced by the LGBT+ community in the 1950s. Overall, all the actors managed to walk on stage with an obvious goal in mind when they were called to carry forth the story with impressive determination and zeal.

To approach this challenging play, the technical aspects of the show created a subdued and intense atmosphere. You walk up on stage and sit in the makeshift risers the school provided and watch as the mainstage curtains enclosed you, creating a claustrophobic environment that assisted you in comprehending the dismal and isolated situations that unfolded onstage. The stage lights changed directions towards one of the sides of the stage and the stairs up to the catwalk were even utilized as the cast and crew strived to incorporate every part of their newfound "blackbox " theater that they could. Obviously, some problems came up with a low rising gradient preventing the audience in the back from enjoying the show as much, but the overall closeness achieved its desired effects.

Thomas Jefferson's A Taste of Honey is just that: a taste. Leaving weighs heavy in your hearts as you contemplate the troubles Jo faces every day and night. Truly, you can't help but identify with Jo as you question: Was it all worth it? Well...was it?