The Scarlet Letter
at Huntington Beach APA

Reviewed on April 25, 2015

Jackson Maxwell
Mission Viejo High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Huntington Beach High School Takes on "The Scarlet Letter"

Guilt, repentance, and sin all resonate throughout Huntington Beach High School's production of "The Scarlet Letter," a romantic narrative of one woman's conflict between her past and the rigid standards of seventeenth-century Puritan society. Haunted by her former promiscuity, she struggles to raise her daughter in a brutally unforgiving environment.

With a definitively Puritan posture and a gentle, protective inflection, Alyssa Halls tackles Hester Prynne's multifaceted character with remarkable complexity, highlighting the perpetual conflict with the community that has ostracized her and her daughter. Her reservation, however, is gradually forsaken as she reunites with minister and previous paramour Arthur Dimmesdale (Mason Marie), liberating herself with unrestrained, fluid movements and a growing defiance. At odds with his own profession, Marie balances between the preacher's solemn façade and his tortured self-loathing, periodically striking down his reticent reservation to reveal his true conflict as his vocal volume escalates to a forceful climax. As Chillingworth, Finn Mitchel clearly contrasts the priest's diffidence with callous calculation, becoming progressively stronger as his sadistic mind wishes more harm on Dimmesdale.

Tasked with portraying seven-year-old Pearl, Haley Blizzard displays striking character growth as she transitions from the natural mirth of youth to fantasies of sadistic violence toward those who are responsible for her mother's unfortunate situation. A product of her unforgiving environment, Blizzard portrays the character in a unique fashion by retaining her innocent physicality throughout, even when speaking of death and savage murder.

Equally evocative are the technical aspects of the production, all of which merit commendation for being coordinated by first-time student designers. For instance, Isabella DiLauro and Josh Behrens' lighting punctuates some of the characters' most poignant monologues, swiftly fading to a vibrant scarlet that accentuates the chaos and hatred present at the time. Additionally, they create a number of visually intriguing scenes by working with Wendoly Espitia and Bradon O'Connell's set design. By illuminating the foreground in a warm color and the background in a harsh, azure darkness, the designers bring to light the conflict between Dimmesdale's warm, pious masquerade and the darkness closing in upon it, permeating to his core to discover his most hidden secret.

Through technical mastery and historically accurate, theatrically complex performances, Huntington's cast highlights these universal themes of dignity and social acceptance with impressive range and creativity.

Danielle Kelly
Laguna Hills High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts Presents The Scarlet Letter

Set in Boston in the 17th-century, "The Scarlet Letter" tells the story of Hester Prynne, a woman banished to a life of social shame after conceiving a child outside of marriage. Hester is forced to wear a scarlet letter A upon her chest, a constant reminder of why she is shunned by others. Later, it is revealed that the man with whom she had an affair is the beloved minister of the local church, Reverend Dimmesdale, who suffers greatly for seven years from horrible guilt.

Alyssa Hall, who plays Hester Prynne, is determined, motherly, and genuine as she fights for the right to keep her daughter and shelter her from the hate that is directed at the two of them. Her monologues are touching, truthful, and captivating due to her excellent diction, delivery, and character choices.

Haley Blizzard (Pearl) radiates childlike innocence. Her arms swing by her sides and there is an unmistakeable bounce in her step. The contrast between her childlike physicality and the cruel, almost fiendish lines that she speaks is significant. She delivers these lines in a way that make apparent the effects that the social banishment has had on her, and the hate that has manifested itself in the child so early on. 

Mason Marie plays the role of Arthur Dimmesdale in a heart-wrenching manner. The combination of great timing, incredible acting skills, and abundant passion makes his performance especially impressive. 

All technical aspects of the play, which were student-designed, are detailed and creative.

The lighting design (by Isabella DiLauro) helped emphasize certain characters and create particular moods during the performance, such as the addition of red front lighting during monologues. 

Another notable facet of this high school production is its outstanding stage management (by Tommy Hinchee) and stage crew. Scene changes and cues are executed quickly and flawlessly. 

Also, the show's ensemble is focused and entertaining. Whether it's the little Indian boys' stage combat or the Goodwives' shenanigans, the ensemble always knows exactly what they're doing and the right times to act without upstaging the lead actors and actresses. 

Overall, although there were some issues with sound, Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts overcame this issue through all the hard work they put into this performance.

Catalina Fernandez
University High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Huntington Beach APA's "The Scarlet Letter" is Sinfully Good

Huntington Beach APA's production of "The Scarlet Letter" is a heart-wrenching play of effective technical and acting components that evoke admiration and compassion, as well as thought into the show's theme of passion over principle.

Helping to establish the 17th century, New England setting of the play, the student-designed set (Wendoly Espitia and Allison Pickle) creates a Puritan-themed environment with muted, neutral colored buildings of dark wooden materials and detailed inside sets that add realism to the production.

In addition to the historically appropriate set, the lighting design (Isabella DiLauro, Josh Behrens) includes bright blue tones that accompany the dark pine trees. The contrast between the vibrant blue tones and the muted colors of the set creates a juxtaposition of a repressed society and the outrageous events that occur within it.

To further emphasize the effect of the time period on the events of the play, the costume design (Katelyn Mandich, Kamari Rhone) achieves a realistic take on the era and setting with jewel-tones, bonnets, lengthy and loose sleeves while still distinguishing the hierarchy of respect present in the society with more elegant attire, as opposed to more dull attire.

Throughout the show, Hester Prynne (Alyssa Hall) has a constant desperation in her voice that expresses her desire to escape the circumstances that she must face from her adultery. Even though she creates strong and defiant vocalization and hopeful characterization, she still remains Puritan-esque with her physicality, keeping her hands at her sides in an upright position.

In addition to the powerful impact of Hester on the emotion of the production is Arthur Dimmesdale (Mason Marie) as a minister who expresses his adultery through his strong, guilt-ridden characterization and the torture he evokes with his vocalization and the facials he presents in moments of anguish and exhaustion.

As the antagonist of the show is the dominating, calculating Chillingworth (Finn Mitchel). Like the other actors, he evokes a shift in character from expressing mercy to bitter hatred and spite, revealing his evil motives through raspy, potent vocalization and a hunched-over, frantic physicality.

Overall, the historically portrayed technical components and compelling acting illustrate the conflicts of the characters in a rigid society and the emotional impact each has on the production.