Up the Down Staircase
at The Madeira School

Reviewed on November 4, 2017

Aubrey Winger
Loudoun Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Fractured walls and dreams make up the classrooms of Calvin Coolidge High School. Hormonal teenagers rule the halls while distant administration drowns the staff in a barrage of paperwork. This dysfunctional environment and the characters who dominate it was beautifully explored in the Madeira Arts Department's production of Up the Down Staircase.

Originally adapted from an epistolary novel written by Bel Kaufman in 1964, this production explores the trials and tribulations of a young teacher by the name of Sylvia Barrett. As she weaves herself into the fabric of her high school, her kindness and determination change the lives of her students forever.

Up the Down Staircase, almost completely composed of letters, memos, announcements, notes, and essays, poses an immense challenge for any performing company. A combination of levels within the set and indirect conversations between actors separated the real encounters from those on paper without losing the integrity of the production.

The faculty ensemble maintained their maturity and poise throughout the show, completely separating them from their teenage students. Sylvia Barrett, portrayed by Alex Raposo, was a burst of light amid a fractured and authoritarian high school. Everyone in the cast gravitated towards her, and her genuine desire to make a difference coupled with an innately human sense of self-doubt, gave her unique traction with the audience. With understated character choices and a warm, comforting presence, her fellow teacher Bea Schachter (Morgan Taylor) personified the quintessential confidant. Prabha Girish took advantage of her booming voice as disciplinarian, J.J. Mc Habe.

The student body of Calvin Coolidge High School celebrated their individuality while forming a cohesive ensemble. Each student had rich character development, ranging from the tempestuous Linda Rosen's (Caroline Potter) journey to modesty to Jose Rodriguez's (Olivia Lewis) complete transformation when given the opportunity to contribute in the classroom. Fulling embracing their male personas, Lou Martin (Chapin Brown) and Lennie "the Hawk" Neumark (Sydney Marenberg) perfectly encapsulated the typical boisterous, flirtatious teenager. Joe Ferone (Katie King), a self-proclaimed bad boy, anchored the plot with strong diction and a fiery temperament. A jarring contrast from these male characters, lovesick Alice Blake's (Melissa Handel) desperate pursuit of attention from her teacher Paul Barringer (Mallie Moore) made the chaotic nature of her attempted suicide deeply resonate with the audience.

A show typically set in the 60's, Up the Down Staircase was skyrocketed into the 90's with sound effects and nostalgic music, aiding the movement of the plot without overpowering the actors. The set perfectly mimicked the inner-city environment of the show. Every onstage element, from the suspended windows that gently alluded to a city skyline to the rusted radiator and mismatched chairs, fit the period perfectly.

In a world where chaos is constant, a little guidance can have monumental impact. Especially in the case of Joe Ferone, all you need is one person to teach you how to stop going up the down staircase.

Elizabeth DeProspo
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

At disadvantaged schools, everything can seem dismal. Windows are broken, common school supplies such as chairs are missing, and rambunctious students run up the down staircase. Up the Down Staircase may seem like a strange choice of a play for an elite academy such as the Madeira School, but the energetic cast members and creative use of technical effects transformed the stage into a world of poverty, disorganization, and chaos.

Up the Down Staircase by Bel Kaufman was adapted into both a movie and a play after its initial success as a novel in 1967. The novel was one-of-a-kind in that it was told through a series of descriptive letters and notes. The play is centered around a young and idealistic teacher named Sylvia Barrett, who is thrown into a chaotic teaching job at Calvin Coolidge, an economically disadvantaged school. Though the story is sprinkled with light hearted jokes and characters, it also addresses more serious topics such as racism, parental negligence, and attempted suicide.

Alex Raposo, who portrayed Sylvia, blazed a path for the rest of the actresses with her undeniable quirkiness and dedication. Raposo evoked the spirit of the overwhelmed teacher in her introduction to the students and staff of the building and only grew in confidence and determination with each struggle. However, the charm of the cast rested not only in the lead, but in the supporting characters as well. Since Madeira is an all-girls school, some actresses were required to play male roles. The goofy Lennie Neumark (Sydney Marenberg) and the clueless, but intellectual, Paul Barringer (Mallie Moore) were clear favorites among these parts. Though playing male characters may have seemed intimidating, the young women were undaunted and brought their respective roles alive.

The imaginative technical aspects of Up the Down Staircase were some of the most impressive pieces of the show. The set was simplistic, yet beautifully and thoughtfully designed, with definite elements of a run down and sparse classroom. The walls were expertly painted to look like the worn bricks of an old school, and the blocky and step-like borders of the set provided a more abstract take on the typical classroom. The technical crew utilized sound effects to craft the environment of each scene; for instance, when a tragedy struck the school, sirens and urgent music flowed through the room and gripped the audience with a sense of dread.

To many people, the perception of a typical Madeira student differs from the characters portrayed in Up the Down Staircase. However, each cast member embraced one of the ultimate goals of theater: to help the audience connect and experience the lives of those who are different from themselves.

Joan Flaherty
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Erasers and Homer and Delinquents! Oh my! The Madeira School's production of Up The Down Staircase portrays the struggles of a budding educator when faced with an English class of indifferent inner-city kids, a lack of chairs, and nonsense regulations.

Based on a novel of the same title, Up The Down Staircase was on The New York Time's Best Seller list for 64 weeks starting in 1964. Its immense popularity led to a movie adaptation in 1967 starring Sandy Dennis before its eventual translation into a stage play.

The cast from Madeira was able to encapsulate the struggles the various teenagers faced and present it to the audience in a sympathetic yet relatable manner. The show's protagonist Miss Barrett (Alex Raposo) took the audience on a journey from insecurity and doubt to optimism and perseverance. She relentlessly tried to convince the student body and staff of resident bad-boy, Joe Ferone's (Katie King) potential and bright future. King portrayed the misfit with a recognizable, yet lovable rebel spirit.

Madeira, an all girl boarding school, not only faced the default challenge of learning how to justly inhabit a character but the additional obstacle of acting as the other gender. Many of the girls assigned to a male role not only successfully did so but showed mastery at it. Prabha Girish who played J.J. Mc Habe, the school's detention officer, took on a masculine aura by embodying a the physicality of one and a commanding tone. Lennie (Sydney Marenberg) and Jose (Olivia Lewis) were also standouts- taming the fine line between realism and a caricature of masculinity.

Just like a staircase is nothing without a destination, a show is nothing without strong tech. Both sound and set showed expertise in their respective areas. The otherwise vacant stage was filled with hanging windows; a brick wall, reminiscent to a staircase silhouette; and, of course, a lack of desks. Every element was intentionally designed to be symbolic and reflect an element from the show. Sound effects only enhanced the audience's experience-- chosen to intensify the mood of a scene or allow the (older) watchers to reminisce about the decade it was set, the 90's.

From an aerial perspective, the conflict seemed distant and un-relatable; an accurate presumption being that most people observing have never taught or have been involved in an inner city school system. Yet, The Madeira School brought the themes and topics of the show miles closer reminding everyone that there will always be relevance to extract in theatre.

Kristen Waagner
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

For the students of Calvin Coolidge High School, the works of Homer or Chaucer aren't priorities. However, a new teacher arrives to start the term, bringing her hope, faith, and love of classical literature with her. Madeira's "Up the Down Staircase" is a powerful, heartwarming story about the difference a truly great teacher can make on the lives of her students.

Based on Bel Kaufman's bestselling 1964 book, the play begins as Sylvia Barrett, an idealist fresh out of graduate school, begins to teach at the inner-city Calvin Coolidge High School. The epistolary nature of the novel is translated to the stage through a combination of scenes, monologues, and narration, resulting in a uniquely retrospective tone.

As the titular schoolteacher Sylvia Barrett, Alex Raposo showcased a wide range of emotional capabilities, starting out timid and shy and blossoming into the firm, adept educator who was able to change the lives of her English class. Sylvia's determination to teach was hampered by bumbling bureaucrat J.J. McHabe (Prabha Girish), who was simultaneously delightfully hilarious and antagonistic. Girish admirably embodied masculinity without creating a caricature of the strict authoritarian. Aiding Sylvia in her fight for the students were Morgan Taylor as Bea Schachter and Amani Hagmagid as Ellen, their respective comforting and motherly natures complemented by their precise portrayal of age.

The rest of Calvin Coolidge High was brought to life by the boisterous students of Miss Barrett's class. From valley-girl Linda Rosen (Caroline Potter) to rebellious bad-boy Joe Ferone (Katie King), the large ensemble cast showed a remarkable change in attitude during the second act. Particular stand outs were Alice Blake (Melissa Handel), whose story pulled at heartstrings all around, and Jose Rodriguez (Olivia Lewis), whose character transformation was fun and uplifting to watch.

Each technical element imbued the show with a polished feel and reinforced the time period. A wholly effective classroom set transported the audience into an inner-city high school of the 1990's. Staircases in the back provided characters with unique vantage points while cleverly referencing the play's title. Creative sound effects, like the police-car sirens and school bells, drew the audience into the world of the scenes. Costumes and makeup were extremely period-accurate, and makeup defined character's faces without being overdone.

Effective use of technical elements and committed actors aided in making the touching story of a teacher fighting for her students a true success in Madeira's "Up the Down Staircase." In a world that stifles students' love for learning, Miss Barrett and her students are a much-needed source of light.

Katherine Kelly
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Behind the cracked windows of an inner city school house, a teacher pushes to discover how to scale the insurmountable walls of her students. The Madeira School artfully captured the power of perseverance and the danger of first impressions in their compelling performance of Up the Down Staircase.

Up the Down Staircase was originally a novel by Bel Kaufman, published in 1964. The book was made up entirely of documents, such as letters, suggestion box cards, and school memos. It was adapted into a movie in 1967, then into a play by Christopher Sergel, preserving pieces of the book's epistolary format. Taking place in the 90s, the story follows Sylvia Barrett, a new teacher eager to inspire her students at Calvin Coolidge High.

Alex Raposo, playing Sylvia, skillfully executed the poise demanded for her mature character, employing a great range of emotional dexterity. Partnering Sylvia was her friend and mentor, the long time teacher Bea Schachter, played by Morgan Taylor. Taylor's consistent characterization and clear maturity aided her relationship with Sylvia, as she created a mother figure for the frazzled young teacher. This believable relationship added dimension to both characters, with their conversations allowing them to accentuate the differences between a new and old teacher's perception of the school.

The dedicated ensemble playing Sylvia's class captured Calvin Coolidge High's complex student body with ease. Each cast member remained committed to their role, expressing their character's differentiating personalities while maintaining the feeling of a unified classroom. Among the students, Melissa Handel, playing Alice Blake, delivered the most heart wrenching story. Handel delicately followed Alice's struggles against her insecurities and wishes, unraveling herself more with each scene and building her character with clear direction. Olivia Lewis, playing the student Jose Rodriguez, was also emotionally compelling, creating an aura of quiet defeat amidst the raucous classroom. Bringing comedic relief was Sydney Marenberg, playing Lennie Neumark. Marenberg embodied her male character with gusto, and from the moment she sauntered onto stage, appeared flawlessly rowdy and ludicrous, eliciting peals of laughter.

The strong technical elements of the production added another level of intricacy. The set portrayed a simple school classroom, with platforms of increasing height behind it. This alluded to a staircase in reference to the play's title, as well as allowing height disparity to make blocking more unique. Complex sound and lighting effects also worked both efficiently and symbolically, changing to reflect moods or situations and making the show more immersive. Time period appropriate makeup and efficient stage management helped the show go off without a hitch, tying together the performance.

As Sylvia navigates a maze of mental illness, poverty, violence, and other issues plaguing her students, she discovers how much more there is to Calvin Coolidge High than what meets the eye. In their meaningful performance of Up the Down Staircase, The Madeira School sends a heartwarming reminder of every situation's complexity and the importance of caring for others, no matter what it entails.

Elizabeth Waldt
West Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Teaching is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. With rowdy students, crowded classrooms, and a ridiculous administrator, new teacher Sylvia Barrett learns exactly what she has gotten herself into in The Madeira School's production of "Up the Down Staircase."

"Up the Down Staircase" spent 64 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list after its publishing in 1964. The novel, written by Bel Kaufman, tells the story of a new teacher starting her first job at an inner-city school through a series of memos and letters. After the book's explosive success, the story was adapted into a film starring Sandy Dennis released in 1967. Currently, "Up the Down Staircase" remains a heartwarming play performed on stages everywhere.

Sylvia Barrett (Alex Roposo) exemplified the timid, down to earth teacher that students grow to love. Although Roposo is only a senior in high school, she clearly had a deep understanding of her character which helped make her performance as an adult appear seamless.

Acting as Joe Ferone, a student with angst and a will to drop out, was actress Katie King. King was challenged with a male role in this performance, but she handled the hurdle with grace. With help of hair and makeup, King was able to portray a male character so accurately the audience would soon forget she was female. Along with Alex Roposo, King demonstrated perfect chemistry between a negligent student and a caring teacher.

Dr. Maxwell Clarke (Tarina Ahuja) was a breath of comic relief in an otherwise serious play. Ahuja's commitment to absurd morning announcements and witty comments gave the audience a break from the serious content discussed in the play.

A school would be nothing without its students, just like "Up the Down Staircase" would be nothing without its ensemble. The students in Ms. Barrett's class made the set of this production feel like a genuine school. Every scene was made more realistic as the students remained in character even without speaking. Their dedication and passion throughout the night helped tie all the different elements together to form a cohesive, well-rounded performance.

Perhaps one of the best technical features of The Madeira School's production was their intricate set. Based around a classroom, the set was skillfully designed with many different levels. The differently staged platforms and steps allowed the actors to get creative with blocking. Often times, multiple actors would communicate from different heights and angles, creating a visually pleasing arrangement of characters.

A well-rounded cast and crew brought together several different elements to tell the story of a new teacher as she enriches the lives of her students. With passionate performances and intricate sets, The Madeira School's production of "Up the Down Staircase" was simply heartwarming.