Triangle Factory Fire Project
at JSerra Catholic

Reviewed on February 2, 2018

Elena Plumb
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Triangle Factory Fire Project Sears with Emotion at JSerra
written by Elena Plumb, a junior at St. Margaret's Episcopal

March 25, 1911. New York City. A cigarette is carelessly dropped in a scrap bin on the 8th floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, causing a fire to blaze through the top 3 floors of the building. With locked doors preventing unauthorized breaks, the burning building had no safe escape. The devastating inferno took the lives of 146. Combining eyewitness accounts and personal testimonies, the cast and crew of Jserra's Triangle Factory Fire Project deliver an impactful retelling of this workplace tragedy and examine disaster's effects on a community.

Nicholas Hendrick is remarkable as Shepherd, narrating the tragic event with both intensity and tenderness. Hendrick displays an impressive range of emotions, clenching his jaw as he raises his voice in anger and disbelief, and slumping his shoulders in heartbreak and helplessness as grief consumes him.

With a courageous stance, Natalie Barrios reflects the spirit of a strong-willed woman as Margaret, the machine operator whose story anchors the play. In the face of the quickly-spreading blaze, she conveys anguish with an ear-splitting scream as she fails to pry open the locked door.

Angelique Brown masterfully portrays Margaret's emotionally scarred friend Kate. Brown trembles and nervously twiddles her thumbs as she testifies, highlighting her character's traumatized state.

Jordyn Kerley delivers a heart-wrenching performance as Margaret's mother. With a quivering whimper in her voice, she powerfully communicates her character's grief and emptiness with the loss of her child.

The ensemble as a whole doesn't miss a beat. By chanting newspaper headlines in quick succession, characters provide commentary on the rapid dissemination of information that immediately follows a tragedy.

Matthew Bergstrom and Angelique Brown's impressive lighting design not only mimics the blaze with a flickering orange light, but also emphasizes shift in mood with the set glowing red in moments of anger and peril.

Grant Sterling, Didrik Thordarson, and Joey Yazbek's exemplary set design is triple-tiered to represent the 3 levels singed by the fire. Though purposefully minimalist, the design is attentive to detail with slightly blackened walls, cracking and peeling.

Emerson Broders and Megan Kelley's use of subtle details and muted colors make the costumes appropriately understated yet memorable. Pieces are historically accurate and also underline gender inequality with men adorned in sharp suits and women in plainer apparel.

With commendable technical elements, honest actor portrayals, and a cohesive ensemble, JSerra's production is thought-provoking and intriguing.

Elena Plumb
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to Orange County Register

Triangle Factory Fire Project Sears with Emotion at JSerra
written by Elena Plumb, a junior at St. Margaret's Episcopal

March 25, 1911. New York City. A cigarette is carelessly dropped in a scrap bin on the 8th floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, causing a fire to blaze through the top 3 floors of the building. With locked doors preventing unauthorized breaks, the burning building had no safe escape. The devastating inferno took the lives of 146. Combining eyewitness accounts and personal testimonies, the cast and crew of Jserra's Triangle Factory Fire Project deliver an impactful retelling of this workplace tragedy and examine disaster's effects on a community.

Nicholas Hendrick is remarkable as Shepherd, narrating the tragic event with both intensity and tenderness. Hendrick displays an impressive range of emotions, clenching his jaw as he raises his voice in anger and disbelief, and slumping his shoulders in heartbreak and helplessness as grief consumes him.

With a courageous stance, Natalie Barrios reflects the spirit of a strong-willed woman as Margaret, the machine operator whose story anchors the play. In the face of the quickly-spreading blaze, she conveys anguish with an ear-splitting scream as she fails to pry open the locked door.

Angelique Brown masterfully portrays Margaret's emotionally scarred friend Kate. Brown trembles and nervously twiddles her thumbs as she testifies, highlighting her character's traumatized state.

Jordyn Kerley delivers a heart-wrenching performance as Margaret's mother. With a quivering whimper in her voice, she powerfully communicates her character's grief and emptiness with the loss of her child.

The ensemble as a whole doesn't miss a beat. By chanting newspaper headlines in quick succession, characters provide commentary on the rapid dissemination of information that immediately follows a tragedy.

Matthew Bergstrom and Angelique Brown's impressive lighting design not only mimics the blaze with a flickering orange light, but also emphasizes shift in mood with the set glowing red in moments of anger and peril.

Grant Sterling, Didrik Thordarson, and Joey Yazbek's exemplary set design is triple-tiered to represent the 3 levels singed by the fire. Though purposefully minimalist, the design is attentive to detail with slightly blackened walls, cracking and peeling.

Emerson Broders and Megan Kelley's use of subtle details and muted colors make the costumes appropriately understated yet memorable. Pieces are historically accurate and also underline gender inequality with men adorned in sharp suits and women in plainer apparel.

With commendable technical elements, honest actor portrayals, and a cohesive ensemble, JSerra's production is thought-provoking and intriguing.

Sierra Young
San Juan Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

JSerra's ‘Triangle Factory Fire Project' is as relevant today as in 1911
written by Sierra Young, a junior at San Juan Hills High School

The fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on March 25, 1911 was one of the largest industrial disasters to date. Women who worked in the factory burned to death as their male managers had locked the emergency exits to stop them from ‘escaping' during the workday. ‘The Triangle Factory Fire Project' tells their stories.

Narrating the action of the tragic event, Nicholas Hendrick as Shepherd sees the fire as it occurs. With a shocked stare, he watches as women jump from windows to escape the inexorable heat of the flames. His emotion when narrating is flat and straightforward, simply explaining the action to the audience. But when talking about the injustices, his anger and disbelief proves the tragedy of the events.

Angelique Brown as Kate, who was with Margaret Schwartz (Natalie Barrios) when she died, recalls the emotions and actions that occurred during the fire. She anxiously scratches her arms and claws at her neck as she is interrogated by Markowitz (Joey Yazbeck). She tries anxiously to keep it together as she is forced to remember the death of her dear friend.

Markowitz (Joey Yazbeck) is aggressive and cruel, always taking the upper hand in the case. Yazbeck's honest reactions to the prosecutor mirror that of a defense attorney in real court. As he arrogantly buttons his jacket and raises his hand, he represents the attitude of the public towards the event.

The set, designed by Grant Sterling, Didrik Thordarson, and Joey Yazbeck is an innovative use of their warehouse space. The use of levels correlates with the real Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, and allows the actors to create dynamic pictures with their movements. The beige walls are textured with white streaks, as well as ripped wallpaper, giving it an abused look. During the fire, it pairs with lighting, designed by Matthew Bergstrom and Angelique Brown, to create an authentic fire look. The orange and red hues flicker as the women scream and claw at the door.

‘The Triangle Factory Fire Project' at JSerra comments on the mistreatment of women that unfortunately has not changed. It provides an opportunity to learn of the misfortunes of the strong women who came before us, and change our society today. JSerra's acting and technical aspects do justice to the tragic events of March 25, 1911.

Sierra Young
San Juan Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

JSerra's ‘Triangle Factory Fire Project' is as relevant today as in 1911
written by Sierra Young, a junior at San Juan Hills High School

The fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on March 25, 1911 was one of the largest industrial disasters to date. Women who worked in the factory burned to death as their male managers had locked the emergency exits to stop them from ‘escaping' during the workday. ‘The Triangle Factory Fire Project' tells their stories.

Narrating the action of the tragic event, Nicholas Hendrick as Shepherd sees the fire as it occurs. With a shocked stare, he watches as women jump from windows to escape the inexorable heat of the flames. His emotion when narrating is flat and straightforward, simply explaining the action to the audience. But when talking about the injustices, his anger and disbelief proves the tragedy of the events.

Angelique Brown as Kate, who was with Margaret Schwartz (Natalie Barrios) when she died, recalls the emotions and actions that occurred during the fire. She anxiously scratches her arms and claws at her neck as she is interrogated by Markowitz (Joey Yazbeck). She tries anxiously to keep it together as she is forced to remember the death of her dear friend.

Markowitz (Joey Yazbeck) is aggressive and cruel, always taking the upper hand in the case. Yazbeck's honest reactions to the prosecutor mirror that of a defense attorney in real court. As he arrogantly buttons his jacket and raises his hand, he represents the attitude of the public towards the event.

The set, designed by Grant Sterling, Didrik Thordarson, and Joey Yazbeck is an innovative use of their warehouse space. The use of levels correlates with the real Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, and allows the actors to create dynamic pictures with their movements. The beige walls are textured with white streaks, as well as ripped wallpaper, giving it an abused look. During the fire, it pairs with lighting, designed by Matthew Bergstrom and Angelique Brown, to create an authentic fire look. The orange and red hues flicker as the women scream and claw at the door.

‘The Triangle Factory Fire Project' at JSerra comments on the mistreatment of women that unfortunately has not changed. It provides an opportunity to learn of the misfortunes of the strong women who came before us, and change our society today. JSerra's acting and technical aspects do justice to the tragic events of March 25, 1911.

Alex Mason
University
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

‘Triangle Factory Fire Project' at JSerra is burning with truth

In the world of cell phones, the Internet, and constant news feeds, it's easy to forget the tragedies that happen around us everyday in favor of scrolling through Facebook or Instagram.

‘The Triangle Factory Fire Project', performed by JSerra Catholic High School, is a chilling response to these times, telling the story of the infamous fire that burned down the top floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and cost 147 workers their lives. Throughout the play, actors yell headlines over each other, representing the over-saturation of news that makes it simple to be sucked in, and to forget the tragedies of both the past and present.

Nicholas Hendrick plays Sheperd, a reporter witnessing the events of the fire. As he narrates what he sees from the ground below, Hendrick's wavering voice and careful smile clearly portray his character's attempt to cope with the horrors of women falling to their deaths around him.

Grant Sterling as Bostwick accurately represents a stressed prosecution attorney trying to keep his head in the heat of a trial. He speaks clearly and assuredly, presenting his evidence without a doubt, and remains calm even when he is ‘proven wrong' by the defense.

In contrast, Steuer (Joey Yazbek), the defense attorney in the trial of the factory owners, is sly and conniving. He struts across the courtroom with a cocky air, viciously destroying the prosecution's claims by presenting false evidence of his own. Yazbek is constantly present in the scene, smirking devilishly when things go his way and putting his head in his hands when they don't. The two attorneys contrast well against each other, creating tension throughout the trial.

The technical elements of the performance were also skillfully done. Costumes, created by Emerson Broders and Megan Kelley, use accurate turn-of-the-century styles that immerse the audience into the world of the show. Using color and accessories to help differentiate between characters, such as a mustard yellow shawl for a grieving middle-class mother or an intricately flowered hat for a suffragette, the costumes crew does a wonderful job of recreating the diversity of New York City in our not-so-distant past.

The‘Triangle Factory Fire Project' combines strong actors and fabulous tech to present the story of a forgotten tragedy in our past, in the hopes that history won't repeat itself today.

Alex Mason
University
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

‘Triangle Factory Fire Project' at JSerra is burning with truth

In the world of cell phones, the Internet, and constant news feeds, it's easy to forget the tragedies that happen around us everyday in favor of scrolling through Facebook or Instagram.

‘The Triangle Factory Fire Project', performed by JSerra Catholic High School, is a chilling response to these times, telling the story of the infamous fire that burned down the top floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and cost 147 workers their lives. Throughout the play, actors yell headlines over each other, representing the over-saturation of news that makes it simple to be sucked in, and to forget the tragedies of both the past and present.

Nicholas Hendrick plays Sheperd, a reporter witnessing the events of the fire. As he narrates what he sees from the ground below, Hendrick's wavering voice and careful smile clearly portray his character's attempt to cope with the horrors of women falling to their deaths around him.

Grant Sterling as Bostwick accurately represents a stressed prosecution attorney trying to keep his head in the heat of a trial. He speaks clearly and assuredly, presenting his evidence without a doubt, and remains calm even when he is ‘proven wrong' by the defense.

In contrast, Steuer (Joey Yazbek), the defense attorney in the trial of the factory owners, is sly and conniving. He struts across the courtroom with a cocky air, viciously destroying the prosecution's claims by presenting false evidence of his own. Yazbek is constantly present in the scene, smirking devilishly when things go his way and putting his head in his hands when they don't. The two attorneys contrast well against each other, creating tension throughout the trial.

The technical elements of the performance were also skillfully done. Costumes, created by Emerson Broders and Megan Kelley, use accurate turn-of-the-century styles that immerse the audience into the world of the show. Using color and accessories to help differentiate between characters, such as a mustard yellow shawl for a grieving middle-class mother or an intricately flowered hat for a suffragette, the costumes crew does a wonderful job of recreating the diversity of New York City in our not-so-distant past.

The‘Triangle Factory Fire Project' combines strong actors and fabulous tech to present the story of a forgotten tragedy in our past, in the hopes that history won't repeat itself today.