The Triangle Factory Fire Project
at El Dorado

Reviewed on November 21, 2014

Chase Robinson
San Juan Hills High School
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

El Dorado's ‘Triangle Factory Fire Project' burns with passion

As the lights fade to black and solemnity pervades the theater, El Dorado High School transports the audience to the Asch Building: site of the most infamous industrial accident in Manhattan's history.

"The Triangle Factory Fire Project" by Christopher Poehler chronicles the tragic day in which a monstrous factory fire killed 146 people and ignited an investigation into workplace conditions. Through vivid storytelling and profound emotion, the seasoned actors of El Dorado thoroughly bring to life and do justice to the dismal event.

Zachary Vlastnik portrays William Shepherd, the journalist who recounts the horrors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Vlastnik's focused and grounded demeanor commands attention, while his clear and crisp articulation enhances his narration.

As Margaret Schwartz, a factory machine operator, Camryn Burns is impassioned and dynamic. She displays her character's innocence with a faltering voice, as she realizes her inevitable demise. Like Burns, Logan Shales possesses strong conviction as Max Schwartz, who is a factory worker and Margaret's loving brother. From his masterful Hungarian accent to his pleading after his sister's death, Shales proves he is fully invested in his character.

Natalie Larson's performance as Bertha Schwartz, Margaret and Max's mother, is also praiseworthy for its character development. Larson replaces her urgency in finding her daughter after the blaze with strained acceptance of her loss—presenting an emotional arc. Likewise, Hannah Quezada as lace cutter Kate Alterman reveals apprehension and confidence. In the court scene, she timidly clasps her hands until she explodes with anger at her questioners.

The Narrators effectively propel the plot forward with distinct, but uniform portrayals. Remaining still as statues when not the center of attention, they frame the scenes' actions and pantomime reading newspapers.

Jon Gaw and McKayla McCune design a rustic and worn factory interior of the early 1900s. In order to exhibit its awful and charred state, they speckle its doors with black paint. While the set is minimalistic, the actors utilize its simplicity as a vehicle for storytelling. Lighting designer Leah Milhander accentuates the set with rich hues of red and orange, which symbolize the fire and envelop the stage in an ominous mood.

El Dorado High School's rendition of "The Triangle Factory Fire Project" not only captivates—it also captures history in stark reality and lends a voice to the innocent people forever affected by this single, traumatic occurrence.

Josiah Haugen
Fullerton Union
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

El Dorado sets stage ablaze with ‘The Triangle Factory Fire Project'

From eyewitness accounts, to the interpretation of the disaster itself, El Dorado High School brings the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 to life with Christopher Poehler and Scott Alan Evans's "The Triangle Factory Fire Project".

Serving as the mediator between those in the fire and audience members, the journalist William Shepherd (Zachary Vlastnik) sets up the whole premise of the show imparting vivid descriptions of each horrifying scene. Vlastnik directly addresses the audience at first with a calm composure yet deteriorates with every death. Vlastnik skillfully enhances each description with the use of his grief-stricken physicality, allowing audience members to better connect with the story.

Logan Shales portrays a broken yet strong-willed factory worker, fighting to save his sister from burning alive in the floors above. After failing to do so, Shales utilizes his whole body to express the overwhelming emotions, falling to his knees and wailing. Shales's performance displays his mastery in control and ultimately adds to the overall intensity of the show.

As a whole, the ensemble of the 35 works together with excellent unity coming together with a single purpose to tell the story for those who can't. The unified force skillfully layers each of their lines on top of the other, setting a constant and sustained flow, unifying the entire piece.

Set design by McKayla McCune appropriately fit the feel of the show with a simplistic yet effective 3 tier set. McCune's versatile set allows actors to create levels while performing as well as being able to be used for a multitude of various settings. The simplistic designs do not detract from the shows overall quality but rather supplies the actors with the tools necessary to tell the story without distracting an audience.

Lighting designer Leah Milhander's use shadows and warm colors brought the words on the script to life on stage. Working side by side with projections (Dyne Donnell), Milhander accents the projection of fire on the cyclorama with warm oranges on the stage. The symbiotic relationship between the two technical teams provides a sound foundation for actors to then build off of.

El Dorado's production of "The Triangle Factory Fire Project" brings back to life the disaster of 1911 while also addressing the faults in society and humanity that still apply to this day.

Justine Sombilon
La Habra High School
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

El Dorado is On Fire

The brightest fire starts as a flickering flame.

El Dorado High School's "The Triangle Factory Fire Project" thoughtfully brings to light the untold lives of female immigrant workers who experience a massive fire in their factory and the court case that ensues afterwards due to the corrupt view on one of America's basic rights: equality.

The cast brings life to these early twentieth century characters with consistent accents and thoughtful line delivery.

Leading the show is Zachary Vlastnik, playing the suave William Shepherd. Vlastnik's clear diction and professional, sophisticated aura onstage work perfectly for his newspaper journalist character. His monologues about being totally disconnected to the stories he writes about seem almost ironic due to the deep, calculating emotions that glide across his face as he takes down the different accounts from the workers about the fire.

Camryn Burns plays independent Margaret Schwartz. With her clear words and hands firmly at their sides, she immediately takes control of the stage and does not give it back until her character dies. Her reserved strength and controlled manner add a heightened respect to Burns' presence and makes her valiant death all the more painful and tragic.

Max Schwartz, who is movingly portrayed by Logan Shales, is Margaret's grieving brother. With his unsteady hands and steady voice, Shales beautifully plays his character in a way that is comparable to a professional walking on a tightrope: strong, yet on the verge of falling completely over the edge.

The apple does not fall far from the tree, at least not in the Schwartz family. Natalie Larson plays Bertha Schwartz as a mother in denial who is not ready to accept the death of her daughter. With her heartbreaking sobs and dead-serious expressions, Larson twists and breaks apart the hearts of everyone onstage, even the unmoving Shepherd.

Although there are some slow moments in the show, the cast still works well at moving the story along efficiently and meaningfully.

The lighting cues, designed by Leah Milhander, provide an appreciated emphasis on the actor speaking. The fire scene, with the color transition from yellow to red to black, visually represent the darkening mood of the actors during the crucial moment in the show.

El Dorado's "The Triangle Factory Fire Project" is a burning fire not easily extinguished. If God were to watch this show, "She" would most definitely approve.