Book of Days
at Langley High School

Reviewed on April 25, 2015

Clara Poteet
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

If you listen very carefully, you'll hear the audience trying to catch its breath after being blown away by Langley High School's staging of "Book of Days." With a small but energetic cast, excellent tech, and vibrant characterization, Langley students transported audience members to the middle of the Ozarks, Dublin, Missouri, and Tornado Alley.

Written in 2000 by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson, the story follows a small town dominated by a dogmatic church and a prosperous cheese plant. Walter Bates (Liam Nimick), respected owner of the plant, dies in a hunting accident during a tornado. However, Ruth Hoch (Jamie Goodson), an employee of Bates' factory, doesn't think the facts add up and takes the audience on a wild ride to find if Bates' death was actually murder.

Supported by a dynamic ensemble, Goodson shines in this role as a fiery, independent woman who says "I'd rather burn at the stake myself than know I'd been responsible for even one person's death." While investigating, Goodson is also starring in a play about Joan of Arc and her life begins to imitate art uncannily as the townspeople turn on her. With superb vocal levels, and chemistry with her husband Len Hoch (Nick Regan), a commanding stage presence, and a bulldog's sense of determination, Goodson made the audience forget they were watching a high school production.

The cast displayed very strong characterizations, even staying in character as they sat "off stage" in the black box. Lily Brock, as Ginger Reed, embodied her character completely, with a self-assured walk, bored insouciance, and sultry stare. She stood out in each scene she was in, from fending off sleaze bag James Bates (Richie Follin) to giving the audience chills portraying Mrs. Bates' raw breakdown after Walter's death. Martha Hoch (Vivian Vaeth), Ruth's witty mother-in-law, added levity to the show with her stories of her days as a wild flower child at Woodstock.

The show, Act 2 especially, featured very powerful two person vignettes in addition to ensemble scenes. Factory laborer Earl Hill (Sam Kit),the bumbling representation of the lower class, was confronted by Ruth about the night of the murder. Later, the audience felt like an eavesdropping neighbor during LouAnn's (Jessica Taylor) haranguing of her adulterous husband James, who is supported in his lechery by the misogynistic church authority figure, Reverend Bobby Groves (John Bucy). Together, the cast made Dublin come alive in the audience's imagination.

Due to renovations at Langley, the show was performed as an intimate black box production at Hunters Woods Elementary School. The tech crew used this to their advantage and sucked the audience in. The sounds were always on cue and were complemented by captivating original composition by Tyler Cunningham.

Although not all audience members could see it, the lights were used imaginatively to create a terrifying, whirling tornado replete with thunder and lightning. The set consisted of a handful of grey boxes that were quickly shifted by the actors into new combinations for each location so the audience never lost interest.

Leaving audience members flabbergasted by the riveting conclusion to the murder mystery, Langley High School students put on a bold and gripping show that surpassed expectations for a high school play.

Caitlin Spiegel
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

Dublin, Missouri, a small, quaint town until one day when a tornado stirs up underlying tensions and secrets. Book of Days, written by Lanford Wilson, is an ensemble based production, but the story is primarily moved by Ruth Hoch. By day Ruth is the bookkeeper of Dublin's cheese plant, the business that supports the town financially and anchors the characters to each other. In her free time Ruth has taken on the role of Joan of Arc in a local production of Saint Joan. Ruth begins to experience the trials of her character outside of the theater, when a tornado leaves the owner of the cheese plant, Walter Bates, dead in its wake. Putting herself up against Dublin's powerful religious and political institutions, Ruth struggles to convince the town that Walter's death was not an accident. Langley High School assembled a dedicated cast and crew, and rose above the relocation of their stage to make this murder mystery come alive.

A standout in the production was Ruth Hoch, played by Jamie Goodson. Goodson matched her character's high energy in every scene. As the truth about Walter's death escalated from a suspicion to a crusade, Goodson elevated her character's determination with her volume and the inflections in her voice. Ruth's zealous nature mixed well with the mellow, easy going attitude of her husband Len, played by Nick Regan. Their chemistry acted as a constant through the story's twists and turns. Another strong performance was that of Lily Brock, in her portrayal of the character Ginger Reed. Brock's strong choices in the way Ginger spoke and carried herself made her memorable in her scenes, but also on the sidelines as she sat and observed in character. Vivian Vaeth as Martha Hoch was excellent as the alternative character in a conservative town, and hilarious in the delivery of her blunt one liners. Some actors struggled with diction and pacing. However the ensemble as a whole successfully communicated the realities of a small town to an urban audience.

On the technical side, the crew met the challenge of having to relocate each night by constructing a simple set. The stage consisted of two levels and a collection of gray blocks to be manipulated for each scene. Unfortunately transitions with these blocks were often abrupt and distracting, taking away from the tone of the previous scene. While these blocks had the potential to create effective levels, actors often sat on the floor, out of sight of many audience members. Scene transitions did find success in the use of original music, composed by Tyler Cunningham. Makeup artists displayed their skill by realistically aging certain characters. Overall technicians did their best with the space they were given.

Book of Days is a provocative play. Langley High School created a cast that was up to the challenge. While there were some issues with the space they were in, they should be applauded for captivating their audience in Dublin's whirlwind summer.

Jessica Dallessandro
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

"Book of Days," performed by Langley High School's Saxon Stage, follows the residents of wholesome Dublin, Missouri, where the two largest enterprises are a cheese factory and the church. The 1999 Lanford Wilson play, was a gripping, edge-of-your-seat performance that truly left the audience breathless.

All seems well in this conservative mid-western town. Then, without warning, a tornado strikes, and claims the life of cheese factory owner Walter Bates (Liam Nimick). The entire town mourns, and citizens find themselves irreparably changed by the incident.

Ruth Hoch (Jamie Goodson) begins to suspect that Walt's death was not an accident at all; thus ensues Ruth's hunt for answers, during which she begins to see uncanny parallels between her life and that of Joan of Arc, who she is cast to play in a local production. The actors of Saxon Stage took on a complicated, word driven script, and executed it with both professional flair and raw emotion, making for a thrilling experience from beginning to end.

Among the most compelling aspects of the performance was the riveting chemistry between pairs of actors. Ruth and her husband Len (Nick Regan) approached their scenes with both urgency and a calm, endearing romantic connection. "Saint Joan" director Boyd (Sivan Tretiak) and Pastor Bobby (John Bucy) offered one of the most interesting scenes of the show, full of organic and cautious dialog that the performers delivered with tense, accusatory tones. Individual characters then brought fresh, intriguing presence to the stage, often offering a never-before-seen performance. Martha (Vivian Vaeth)was the hilarious comedic relief, sauntering onto the stage with plucky confidence. Ginger Reed (Lily Brock) made for the most powerful dramatic moment, in an emotional breakdown that went above and beyond the call of any high school performer. There were slight problems with diction and clarity throughout, though each actor had excellent projection, filling the stage even while performing alone.

It is difficult enough to perform such spellbinding theater on a well equipped stage. Saxon Stage's actors took on the challenge of performing in an elementary school classroom, as Langley High School's theater space is under construction. The stage was therefore minimalist, with only a few moveable gray blocks as set pieces, all shifted around by the actors with well rehearsed precision (stage management by Alden Anthony and Madison Deyo). The stage setup made it difficult for all audience members to see each scene, though the use of levels was clever and inventive. Original composition by Tyler Cunningham was prodigious, moving scenes along with an underlying grace. Sound cues were sometimes rushed, though the actors recovered flawlessly. The tornado lighting effect (by Leo Mahdessian and Jack Lichtenstein), which involved quick flashes of hot white light, totally absorbed the audience, stealing breath with its intensity.

Saturated with dramatic character arcs and clean use of the stage, "Book of Days," performed by Langley High School is a charming, poignant piece of theater that truly offers something for every audience member. With an abrupt and often confusing script, the actors took the bull by the horns and delivered a show that inspired audiences to be brave, take charge, and fight for what is right.

Laura MacDonald
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Fairfax

Pulitzer prize-winning play-wright Lanford Wilson's "Book of Days" is the story of a small town in Missouri with plenty of secrets. Ruth Hoch, an aspiring actress, and her husband enjoy their carefree lives until their boss, the owner of the town's important cheese factory, is killed in a strange hunting accident. Upset and confused, Ruth begins to suspect foul play and attempts to investigate her boss' death, all while preparing for her lead role as Joan of Arc in the town's local theatre production. As Ruth and the other townspeople delve further into the mystery, suddenly the situation turns twisted, leaving Ruth unsure who she can really trust.

Jamie Goodson, in the role of heroine Ruth Hoch, conveys her character superbly. As the role is a tribute to the powerful woman Joan of Arc, it is fitting that Goodson convincingly engaged the audience with her complex character. She was bold, passionate, and commanded the stage each time she entered.

Two other female characters stood out: Ginger Reed, played by Lily Brock, and Martha Hoch, as portrayed by the exuberant Vivan Vaeth. Brock had moments of such intensity throughout the performance that one could easily hear a pin drop, while Vaeth, whose character was a hilarious hippie-like addition to the cast, had the audience roaring with laughter. Both had excellent stage presence and continued the theme of powerful women with complex characters. All of the actors portrayed their characters with a sense of intense realism, even though the script was definitely complex.

It is extremely notable to point out that Langley's cast and crew were working in an unfamiliar school for their production. That being said, the lighting and stage cues were excellent considering the actors and technician's lack of accessibility to the performance area while rehearsing. The stage pieces were simple yet extremely effective; white blocks were used to create living rooms, church altars, and even areas of the woods. The actors did a commendable job of selling every scene, even with a lack of extravagant back drops or furniture.

Did you read about the accident in the paper? Perhaps not, but Langley High School's production of "Book of Days" transported the audience to small town Dublin, Missouri, creating an atmosphere of such realism that it is hard to believe it was all just a story.

Katie Anthony
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Was it an accident, or was it murder? That is the question that loomed over the heads of the audience members as the small town of Dublin, Missouri, came to life in Langley High School's "Book of Days."

Written by Lanford Wilson, the story is about a cheese making factory and the community surrounding it. The community seems peaceful and prosperous until one day, Walt Bates, the owner of the company, is killed during a tornado storm. However, a growing suspicion overtakes one brave townsperson who attempts to expose the truth about what happened to Walt on that fateful night.

Jamie Goodson brought to life Ruth Hoch, or simply Joan of Ark in her community's play. Her strong convictions and slow transformation into the rejected hero of her town were both powerful and heartbreaking to watch. However, much like Joan, she never loses power and her journey is one that few high school actors could portray so convincingly.

Other standouts were Lily Brock as Ginger Reed, a local girl and friend of Ruth, and Vivian Vaeth, as Martha Hoch, Ruth's former hippie mother-in-law. Vaeth often provided comic relief with her extravagant retellings of her days of Woodstock, but was also a constant source of support for her son and his wife. Brock breathed life into the town's sassy aspiring director with "the shortest skirt anyone has ever seen in this church". Her unshakeable confidence and disregard of others lack of approval made her one of the most interesting actors to watch. Also tackling a difficult role was John Bucy as Rev. Bobby Groves, the town's misogynistic and two-faced religious leader. Bucy managed to balance the Reverend's seemingly kind and threatening demeanor as he maintained order in the tiny town, a feat that cannot be considered easy.

The host school was under renovations throughout rehearsals and performances, so the production was put on at Hunters Woods Elementary School. The play was performed in a small black box that was connected to a classroom. Though this ensured cramped space for both the actors and audience, there were few technical issues. The actors also had to stay on stage for the duration of the play, but never once broke character.
Though there were some technical aspects that may have been skewed due to the small space, the show generally ran very smoothly. Some of the actors could not be seen when they lay down on the stage; however, several blocks were usually well utilized to keep the actors visible and the scene changes quick. A tornado effect was also created for that one fateful season, and darkness and flashing lights overtook the audience for about 30 seconds along with eerie character narration. Needless to say, many of us were rightfully scared- in a good way.

Though many plays have been written about small towns and the scandals that rock them, there has perhaps never been a high school production of it with this much intensity. In the black box, the audience felt as trapped and tightly squeezed as the actors they were watching, and soon were as invested as the characters. But whether it was an accident or murder, one thing was clear-the town would never be the same.

Ana Deiderich
Oakcrest School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

"Dublin, Missouri. Population four thousand, seven hundred and eighty. Fifty-nine miles southwest of Fort Leonard Wood. Seventeen miles northeast of Springfield. A pool hall. Coffee shop. A cheese plant." A typical small town in America. The sort of town where the biggest controversy is the local theater's production of Joan of Arc, until the night when a twister rips through Dublin, and Walter Bates, the owner of Dublin's cheese plant, dies in a freak accident. An accident … or was it murder?

Lanford Wilson, who wrote "Book of Days," Langley High School's most recent theatrical production, was born in Missouri in 1937, but moved to New York at the age of twenty five, where he began writing one-act plays. In the course of his career, Wilson would write about twenty plays, including Fifth of July, which garnered him a Tony Award nomination, Talley's Folly, for which he won the 1980 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and dozens of short productions. Book of Days was one of his last plays, premiering in 2000, only eleven years before his death from complications of pneumonia.

Ruth Hoch, the play's fiery heroine, and the actress portraying Joan of Arc in Dublin's production of St. Joan, was played by Jamie Goodson. Miss Goodson was a pleasure to watch: her Ruth was likeable, charismatic, passionate, and smart, yet her moments of weakness were heartrendingly real. Ruth is the sort of woman who mothers want their daughters to grow up to be: a strong feminist who refuses to be quiet under the pressure of the misogynists who fill the town of Dublin. While portraying Wilson's 21st century reincarnation of Joan of Arc, Miss Goodson did an excellent job of showing this strength without making her character seem preachy.

Martha Hoch, Ruth's mother-in-law, played by Vivian Vaeth, was just as lovable as Ruth. Whenever Martha was on the stage, the audience knew to prepare themselves to laugh. Her comedic timing was excellent! Her facial expressions were excellent! Her vocal inflections were excellent! If the majority of the play had simply been Martha sitting on stage, describing the trials of the sixties, and how her generation didn't suffer through having to do all those drugs and whatnot for the youth to waste their independence on lip piercings, the audience wouldn't have minded one bit.

Langley High School didn't have an easy time putting on this show, renovations on their building forcing them to perform in a small elementary school classroom with a square platform and no backstage, but that didn't stop them from making it so good that no one who came to see it will be forgetting it any time soon.

Neal Going
James Madison High School
Submitted for publication to Saxon Scope

In Dublin, Missouri, a small, conservative town encompassing a cheese factory, church, and community theatre, a hunting accident recently occurred in which the owner of the local cheese plant was killed. Ruth Hoch, the plant bookkeeper and newly cast lead in the local production of Joan of Arc, pursues the issue into greater depth as she suspects this was no mishap, despite the dismissals she receives from the congregation at the local church. This was a cruel murder.

Langley High School Theatre brilliantly performed Book of Days by Lanford Wilson. Despite having to relocate to an elementary school black box theatre due to construction on their home turf, Jamie Goodson (Ruth Hoch) lead the show with a spunky, fast-talking, and fearless attitude that commanded the stage. Goodson displayed diversity when delivering a cappella selections and when performing Juliet's famous balcony scene: "Wherefore are thou, Romeo?" Nick Regan (Len Hoch) adroitly portrayed the nerdy, worrisome husband constantly trying to comfort Ruth. The duo illustrated themselves to be a believable couple with realistic love and problems. Lily Brock (Ginger Reed) and Vivian Vaeth (Martha Hoch) aptly added to this intense performance. Brock's scarlet portrayal exquisitely added contrast to the ways of the conservative town. Most notable was Brock's nervous breakdown monologue as Sharon Bates-- an authentic and touching performance. Vaeth charmingly expanded the production as the comical, erotic, stuck-in-the-past mother of Len Hoch.

Technical elements beautifully contributed to the production. The simple, yet crafty, set design lead by Jake Holzapfel provided a unique backdrop for the audience. The entire production used only six grey rectangular boxes stacked cleverly to act as a desk, a podium, a baptismal font, and numerous other structures. Leo Mahdessian and Laura Gordon's lighting design included high level elements expertly executed, including the simulation of an unnerving tornado and the lighting of twelve projector screens to set the mood for each scene. Tyler Cunningham's brilliant original music composition provided smooth transitions from scene to scene with audience members tapping their feet to the catchy drum interludes.

For a moving production with near-professional luster, Langley High School Saxon Theatre received a standing ovation for their exceptional small-town tale.