The Girl in the White Pinafore
at Fullerton Union

Reviewed on November 9, 2019

Sophia Burick
San Clemente
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies

Fullerton Union High School's The Girl in the White Pinafore explores the lasting impacts of untold tragedy
written by Sophia Burick, a senior at San Clemente High School

On March 18, 1937, the New London High School in Rusk County, Texas, exploded after natural gas leaked into the school and ignited, killing 298 students.

Fullerton Union High School's The Girl in the White Pinafore views the legacies of this incident across decades through the eyes of guilt-ridden superintendent W. C. Shaw (David Kwon) and bereaved mother Mary Davis (Sydney Castiglione). As the story shifts between the time of the incident and W. C. and Mary's final days in a nursing home in the 1960s, the complex ways that loss and guilt manifest become painfully apparent.

David Kwon's powerful performance as superintendent W. C. Shaw, who received the blame for the incident that killed his own son, reveals how Shaw's remorse has decayed his soul. He lives his final days battling against and apologizing to the spirit of Amelia Davis (Emma Hill), the girl in the white pinafore, who was killed in the explosion. From the agony conveyed through his twisted facial expressions and distressed physicality to his broken admissions of guilt throughout the play, Kwon profoundly exemplifies how regret can torture a person.

Sydney Castiglione expertly assumes the role of Mary Davis, the mother of Amelia Davis, deftly alternating between a parent experiencing indescribable loss in the 1930s and an exhausted stroke victim in the 1960s. Castiglione's raw, tormented cries upon realizing Amelia's death express an understanding of pain beyond her years.

Nadine Davis Williams (Karina Hunt), the daughter of Mary Davis, and Lucy Everette (Brittany Fisheli) are refreshing as nurses in the ward where Mary and W. C. reside. Their positive demeanors and thoughtful recognitions of the past embody a sense of hope, revealing how tragedy can breed growth.

Lighting designer David Block and sound designer Avi Block collaborate excellently to signify shifts in time, with lighting changing from amber hues in the 1930s to cold tones in the 1960s. These shifts are marked by a resounding "boom," representing how the tragedy of the explosion echoes throughout time. Hair and makeup designer Georgia Rau brilliantly portrays the death of the children's chorus, with childlike blush giving way to gravely pale faces.

Fullerton Union HS's The Girl in the White Pinafore conveys with painfully impactful detail how a great tragedy can haunt a person, family, and community for decades to come.

Brenna Alexander
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Fullerton Union High School's "The Girl in the White Pinafore" Shatters Expectations
written by Brenna Alexander, a junior at Tesoro High School

Disaster strikes in 1937, when a school explodes, the families of 294 children struggle to pick up the pieces well into 1963. Fullerton Union High School's heart wrenching production of "The Girl in the White Pinafore" is a beautiful manifesto about closure and the decisions we make, in which hearts shatter and people forgive.

Striding across stage, Sydney Michele Castiglione brings the strong Mary Davis to life. As the play switches between 1937 and 1963, Castiglione does a stellar job of switching from an ailed, older woman to the straight backed, strong mother she was. Shaking onstage, Castiglione portrays the effects of a stroke in 1963, yet once the switch to 1937 is made, Castiglione snaps into character. This swift change pointing out the amount of time it takes to change someone's life.

Opposite the stage, David Kwon's guilt ridden portrayal of William Shaw is emotional and raw. Kwon's anguished expressions as he remembers being questioned about the causes of the explosion and hears the chanting of the dead children. Later, as Kwon pleads for forgiveness, he is facing the ghost of his son, rather than the judge, exposing the greatest source of his pain.

Walking with a joyful gait, Emma Hill shines as the spirited Amelia Davis. Hill takes on a joyful tone as she plays and, later, a menacing tone as she questions William Shaw from beyond the grave, illustrating the change in her spirit after the accident. Playing opposite Hill is Nathaniel Baesel as the reserved Sam Shaw. Baesel's mature speech and mannerisms separate him from the other children, as he reads instead of joining in the play. Hill's loud taunting perfectly contrasts Baesel's solemn silence, highlighting the peculiarity of their friendship.

The lighting designed by David Block and Nolan Shirk is perfectly executed. In the scene where all the children die, vibrant warm colors light up the cyc in a rolling manner, taking on the illusion of the fire, while at the same time, red cyc lights flash under the rubble. The contrast of the warm yellows and chocolates used for 1937 with the dim no color lights anytime it is supposed to be 1963 underlines the mood's change from warm to somber.

With impeccable acting and seamless technological execution, Fullerton Union's touching "The Girl in the White Pinafore" provides closure.

Elle Viefhaus
Trabuco Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

Fullerton's tear-jerking The Girl in the White Pinafore
written by Elle Viefhaus, a sophmore at Trabuco Hills High School

Fullerton's heartwrenching performance of The Girl in the White Pinafore tells the tragedy of the gas explosion that took place in 1937 in a New London, Texas school.

From love to guilt to mourning, this show is filled with heavy emotions and soul-tugging sensations. Set in the 1930s and 1960s, this story follows two families as they experience the loss of their children due to the treacherous explosion. Mary Davis mourns her daughter, Amelia, while Superintendent William Shaw grieves over his son and lives the rest of his life tormented by guilt.

David Kwon, who portrayed William Shaw, gives an astounding performance as he personifies a shame-filled, old man. His elderly facial expressions, silent muttering, and aged voice enhance his authentic performance. Sydney Castiglione, who portrayed Mary Davis, sends spine-shivering screams through the theatre and wonderfully depicts motherly anguish. Her matronly mannerisms are evident as her back straightens, the tone becomes stern, and tears become sobs.

Emma Hill, who portrayed Amelia Davis, captures the innocence of her character as she flys around the schoolyard and stomps away from her mother. Hill's raw anger is distinct as her prominent voice torments "Mr. Shaw" and her eyes remain locked with intensity on her enemy. The Children's Chorus creates a unified picture of the many lives that were lost as they move in sync with solemn faces and chant nursery rhymes.

The technical aspects bring this spectacular show a quantum leap forward. The incredible set design with hidden platforms, school supplies such as globes, books, and clocks hidden in rubble and debris, as well as a realistic brick background transform the stage to that terrible day in 1937. The glorious lighting contrasts cold and dark tones as the story jumps between decades, and the sound cues are perfectly timed with booming explosions and radio static.

The choreography tells a moving story as chairs are being lifted and children are desperately reaching for help. The simplistic scarves represent the blood vs. dove symbolism displayed throughout the play and the other props such as the laundry basket, pill bottle, and food containers match perfectly with the period.

In conclusion, Fullerton High School beautifully shares this story, showcasing the power of love, family, and remembrance.