Flowers for Algernon
at Freedom High School

Reviewed on February 17, 2018

Maggie Klein
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

As the age-old proverb goes, "Where ignorance is bliss, / 'Tis folly to be wise." But for Charlie Gordon, a man with an IQ of 68 and a third-grade reading level, his desire to be wise overtakes all. A medical operation that raises his IQ to genius levels brings him growth, achievement, and pain in Freedom High School's moving production of Flowers for Algernon.

Conceived as a short story by Daniel Keyes in a 1959 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Flowers for Algernon was then adapted into an award-winning novel, numerous television and film versions, and a 1969 play by David Rogers. The story, told through a series of progress reports by Charlie, follows his intellectual and emotional journey from intellectually disabled to genius and back again alongside the titular Algernon, the lab mouse who underwent the same surgery as Charlie did to artificially improve his intelligence.

Eric Wickham was transformative as Charlie Gordon. In a demanding role for anyone, Wickham not only met but surpassed the challenges of the character beyond a high school level. His thorough understanding of Charlie on both an external and internal level was evident. He demonstrated a thorough understanding of the character in both regards. Unwavering commitment to Charlie's initial hunched posture and slow stammer made his gradual transformation into a straight-backed, quick-witted man entirely believable, satisfying, and cathartic, and his regression utterly heartbreaking. Wickham captured the sweet innocence and innate kindness of Charlie as well as the tearful inner turmoil upon gaining awareness of his tragic past and uncertain future.

Charlie was enthralling and dynamic whether delivering a monologue alone or interacting with others, from the sweet teacher-turned-lover Alice Kinnian (Sydney Calvelli) to his team of doctors. The group's subtly differing dynamics grew evident in Act 2 as they reacted to Charlie's progress and deterioration with regret, sympathy, and greed. Ethan Van Slyke in particular developed a strong presence and clear character as the compassionate Burt Seldon. Charlie's family also gave noteworthy performances, with his mother (Emily Sorber) giving an increasingly chilling performance of a conflicted parent and Young Charlie (Will Mosier) commanding attention with his presence alone for its clear connectedness to Charlie.

A detailed, multilevel set created offices and bedrooms (smartly repurposed to create a different apartment in Act 2), and glowing screen "mazes" artfully obscured flashback scenes. The lighting was enchanting. A cyclorama changed colors to match the mood of the scene. Clever costuming (Lily Borg et. al) further enhanced Charlie's emotional journey with subtle changes from a colored sweater to a black and white tuxedo as he gained intelligence and confidence but lost his sweetness. The choice to put him back in his sweater at the end of the show made his final moment on stage all the more poignant and heart-wrenching.

While Charlie (and Algernon)'s time as "a couple of man-made geniuses" was fleeting, the questions of ethics in science, intelligence vs. kindness, and what it means to live a meaningful life are eternal. Freedom High School's attention to detail and emotional vulnerability made their performance of Flowers for Algernon a blissful, painful, powerful maze of humanity.

Kristen Waagner
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

No gift comes without consequences. Even in the scientific world, unexpected side effects are always a risk. But who could predict that artificially raising a man's intelligence would rob him of his humanity? In an impactful retelling of the classic science-fiction story, Freedom High School has used "Flowers for Algernon" to raise awareness about intellectual disabilities.

Based on the short story and subsequent novel by Daniel Keyes, "Flowers for Algernon" revolves around Charlie Gordon, a kind-hearted, earnest man who was born with an intellectual disability. When a groundbreaking experimental treatment dramatically increases his IQ, Charlie grapples with the consequences of his newfound intelligence, even as it slowly slips away from him. Inspired by events from Keyes' life, the 1966 epistolary novel won the prestigious Nebula Award and was soon adapted into a play by David Rogers.

During the 1960s, in which the novel was written, intellectual disabilities were commonly misunderstood by both the public and academia, and those affected by them were too often treated with contempt and disgust. Despite its scientific origin, the phrase "mental retardation" has become a derogatory term for intellectual disabilities. The use of the word "retard" is preserved in "Flowers for Algernon" for historical accuracy, and to ‘spread the word to end the word.' In approaching the play, Freedom High School worked with their Special Education Department to increase the impact of Charlie's story.

Eric Wickham, as Charlie Gordon, fully committed to the intense intellectual transformation of his character. His emotional arc carried the story as he struggled to find himself in a maze of repressed memories, perfidious friends, and his own development. Will Mosier (Young Charlie) haunted Wickham while capturing his former self, forcing him to relive the trauma of his past.

The whirlwind of doctors treating Charlie were nuanced and sympathetic, while remaining true to their own motivations. Steely Professor Nemur (Josh Lee) and caring Dr. Strauss (Duncan MacLean) had dynamic fraught with realism, while Burt Seldon (Ethan Van Slyke) stood out as a character that genuinely cared for Charlie's wellbeing. Emily Sorber and Jack Doyle, as Charlie's parents, intentionally embodied their transition from well-meaning to neglectful to malicious through Charlie's flashbacks, casting him out with heartbreaking coldness. Alice Kinnian, portrayed with grace by Sydney Calvelli, was at times a friend, teacher, and even lover to Charlie, her tenderness contrasting the bleak reality of Charlie's world.

Costumes in "Flowers for Algernon" deftly reflected the character's journeys. Although he began in a cheerful blue sweater, as Charlie's IQ increased, he wore drab suits to visualize his loss of humanity. The play took shape in a beautiful set, replete with period-appropriate wood paneling and maze motifs. Particularly creative were the maze-shaped shadow screens that partially obscured Charlie's flashbacks, making them seem hazy and dreamlike.

With "Flowers for Algernon," Freedom High School has proved that it is not our intelligence that defines us, but our character. After all, even when we know what is at the end of the maze, it is the path we choose through it that shows who we really are.

Diana Witt
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

"Who's to say that my light is better than your darkness?" questions Charlie Gordon, after a life-altering operation grants him a high IQ, but costs him deep emotional scars. With authentic characterizations, distinct lighting effects, and raw emotional moments, Freedom High School eloquently uncovered truths about the value of intelligence in their poignant production of Flowers for Algernon.

Flowers for Algernon is a play based off of a science fiction novel of the same title. The novel, written by Daniel Keyes, was first released as a short story in 1958. Due to its popularity, the book was later rewritten as a full book in 1966. David Rogers then adapted the novel into a play in 1969.

When scientific findings discover a new, revolutionary operation that could increase intelligence, a mentally disabled man named Charlie Gordon seizes the opportunity to be the first man to receive the surgery. The procedure has only had success on a mouse named Algernon so far, but promises to give Charlie a better life. With the help of the scientists and his teacher, Alice Kinnian, Charlie receives the risky surgery and his IQ skyrockets. While Charlie discovers the intellectual concepts the world has to offer, he also discovers the emotional depths of his mind.

Eric Wickham truly conquered the challenging and demanding role of Charlie Gordon. Wickham demonstrated an impeccable range, as he transitioned from a childlike dependent to a well-spoken genius. Before Charlie's operation, Wickham exuded a lovable charm and accurately depicted the physicalities and vocal qualities of the mentally challenged man. As Charlie progressed through his post operative routines, Wickham showcased his gradual mental transformation, while exhibiting Charlie's inner turmoil. In emotionally-charged scenes in which visions from Charlie's childhood sprung to life, Wickham captivated the audience through his chilling performance. Wickham also exhibited a budding romance with Charlie's teacher, Alice Kinnian, played by Sydney Calvelli. Equipped with a nurturing persona, Calvelli commendably portrayed Charlie's cautious and sensitive caretaker.

Charlie's scientific team, Dr. Strauss, Professor Nemur, and Burt Seldon, were played by Duncan MacLean, Josh Lee, and Ethan Van Slyke. All three men demonstrated the distinguished, mature personalities of the scientists, while maintaining their own individual attitudes towards the experiment. Van Slyke stood out as the naive assistant, Burt Seldon. With a commanding onstage presence, Van Slyke uncovered the sensitivity of Charlie's situation through the discoveries of the intelligence and perception tests.

Thoughtful student-driven technical aspects immersed the audience into Charlie's world. A versatile set design utilized various pieces, such as a bakery case and bedroom furniture, to create a wide variety of settings. A grand maze adorned the stage, mimicking Algernon and Charlie's intelligence test. The translucency of the maze masked the vignettes of Charlie's past, giving the hazy effect of his faulty memory. Uniquely designed lighting effects accentuated the sentiments of the scenes. Red hues were implemented to highlight intense moments, while cool blue tones emphasized Charlie's hopeless despair.

As Charlie leaves flowers on Algernon's grave, he says goodbye to his wish to be smart, but leaves behind an impactful scientific legacy. The committed cast and crew of Freedom High School's Flowers for Algernon imprinted the audience with powerful messages about human decency and emotional maturity in their tremendous and heart wrenching production.

Helen Ganley
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

If given a choice between blissful ignorance and bitter awareness, which would you choose? In a maze of newfound love, dark red ink blots, and crisp white lab coats, Freedom High School's powerful production of Flowers for Algernon emphasizes the dangers of changing who you are.

From its first release in 1959, Flowers for Algernon quickly progressed through literary history. Beginning as a short story, written by Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon flourished and was transformed into a full-length novel. Soon after, in 1969, the novel was adapted into a play by David Rogers and continues to inspire authors, novelists, and playwrights today. The show follows Charlie Gordon, a mentally challenged man with an IQ of 68, as he undergoes an operation that rapidly increases his intelligence. As his IQ grows, his awareness does also, and Gordon becomes increasingly spiteful against everyone except his teacher and love interest, Ms. Kinnian, and a mouse who performs the lab tests with him, Algernon.

Flowers for Algernon is considered controversial today because of its use of the word "retarded." Up until 2010, "mental retardation" was the medical term for someone with a low IQ and significant limitations in daily living skills. However, in recent years the word has become a derogatory term that is unacceptable to use in any social context, so Barack Obama changed the medical term to "intellectual disability." Despite this change, many of those who perform Flowers for Algernon choose to keep the word in the show so as to preserve historical accuracy and to provide a social commentary on the use of the word.

Eric Wickham gave a riveting performance as Charlie Gordon. Going from being slightly hunched to standing up straight, as well as changing the tone and speed of his line delivery, Wickham's transition between having an IQ of 68 to an IQ of 185 was engaging and tasteful. Wickham's commitment to his role was astounding and provided an intense emotional arc that was beautiful to watch.

The three scientists' interactions on stage brought undeniable tension into the room as they went through the different stages of Charlie's treatment. From Professor Nemur's aggressive tactics, to Dr. Strauss's levelheaded therapy sessions, to Burt Seldon's gentle way of collecting data, Josh Lee, Duncan MacLean, and Ethan Van Slyke's ever-changing interactions keep the audience engaged throughout the show. In Charlie's flashbacks, his family appears behind a translucent maze. Emily Sorber and Jack Doyle, playing Charlie's Mother and Father, created intentional and complex characters that enhanced Charlie's emotional transition.

To back up the maze of emotions onstage was a literal maze, cleverly and beautifully constructed by the set crew. Small details like the grain of the wood paneling and the rolling hand-welded hospital bed effectively transported the audience into the 1960s. The lights were effectively used to mirror Charlie's emotions, turning the back wall into a blood red whenever Charlie was having a flashback. Costumes in group scenes were cohesive with both each other and the set, and Charlie's change from wearing loose-fitting brightly colored sweaters to crisp darkly colored suits effectively emphasized his emotional transition.

So, although ignorance might be bliss, after realizing that your life might not be anything like you thought it was, awareness brings on a new future that you can shape, rather than having it shaped for you. Freedom High School's performance of Flowers for Algernon displays the complications of mental disabilities, love, and science, all in one beautiful, emotional show.

Miranda Huffer
Woodgrove High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

"Complete the maze. Write the report. Remember. Learn. Complete the maze. Write the report." These monotonous tasks follow Charlie Gordon around, tormenting him as a science experiment rips away the "slow" person he once was and replaces it with the enhanced mind of a genius. The background of his life filled with mazes and fuzzy memories of his past, Freedom High School's artistic take on Flowers for Algernon explores the impossible, stirring up strong emotions.

Set in the 1960's, Flowers for Algernon was originally a novel written in first person journal entries by Daniel Keyes about Charlie Gordon (Eric Wickham), a man of low IQ who undergoes an experiment that raises his intellect to that of a genius. Treated more like a mouse than a man by the lab team, his intelligence and progress is compared to the original test subject, a mouse nicknamed Algernon. Soon besting Algernon in the maze tests, Charlie finds that his emotions lag behind, stuck with his troubled past while his intellect then surpasses scientists who "created" him. Haunted by images of his old self, Charlie is unable to love his old school teacher, Alice (Sydney Calvelli), especially after he learns that Algernon's progress is regressing, meaning that Charlie's would as well. As he experiences his fall from grace, Charlie's attachment to Algernon grows, and soon he is right back to where he began, an IQ of 68, lonely, and returning to a mental institution.

The plot entirely centered on him, Charlie's character requires incredible attention to detail, extremely variant character arc, and research into the physical and emotional attributes of mental disability, all of which Eric Wickham took on with confidence. Using well developed physical motions, Wickham established a baseline for Charlie's characterization that allowed the audience to view his change in intellect clearly. His energy and commitment to his character stayed consistent and engaged. His relationships with the three doctors, Dr. Strauss (Duncan MacLean), Professor Nemur (Josh Lee), and Burt Seldon (Ethan Van Slyke) were well developed, allowing the contrasts between the doctor's personalities and approaches with Charlie's treatment to enrich his character and the plot. Van Slyke demonstrated a particularly dedicated character, displaying Burt's sympathy and humanity from his first moment on stage to contrast the conduct of the others.

Blending reality with memory, the striking set of Freedom's production, gave Wickham a platform to produce a well rounded character and communicate effectively with the audience. Consisting of two rooms connected loosely by transparent mazes, a physical symbolism of Charlie's lingering past was established behind the translucent structures, his parents and sister faceless as they pantomimed scenes Charlie described. After Charlie expressed remembering their faces, the lighting illuminated them; their expressions were revealed to the audience immediately, showcasing the tech team's creative artistic ability. The lighting of the show used variant colors and detail-oriented consistency to heighten the emotional effect of the show.

Flowers for Algernon is a complex piece, combining modern technology, old stigma, and everlasting emotional conflict into one. Freedom High School's interpretation brought a soft yet impactful performance to the stage, telling Charlie's story in a new light.