Fortress
at Dominion High School

Reviewed on May 15, 2021

Emilia Ermanoski
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

What happens when you build a barrier that keeps everyone out, even the ones you love? Follow the touching story of Dominion High School's "Fortress," where we witness one particular fortress finally come crashing down.

Written by Michael Scanlan, "Fortress" details the complicated relationship between Billy and Kim over a span of several years, revealing the challenges Billy has faced since childhood and his desperate persistence to shut out everyone around him, including Kim. Frustrated, she tries, time and time again, to show what a big mistake he is making. Dominion High School's VHSL piece explores the concepts of truth and growth, characterizing the importance of bringing down the walls that block those who care about us the most from coming into our lives, even in our most vulnerable moments.

This compelling story illustrates the many emotional changes that Billy and Kim go through from young children to older teenagers. Maguire Crowe, portraying Billy, met the demands of this lengthy timeline with a wide age range. Whether it was the hesitant stammering of a five-year-old repeating his mother's scoldings verbatim or the explosive outbursts of a standoffish 13-year-old, Crowe's incredible ability to perform such a variety of ages paved the way for a powerful development of his character. Alongside Billy is his long-time "frenemy," Kim, played by Lareina Allred. As the narrator of "Fortress," she presented Kim chronicling the story as her current self all the while switching between multiple ages, exemplifying Allred's ability to portray different stages of Kim's life with outstanding ease.

Along with Billy and Kim is the impressive ensemble team, juggling the task of simultaneously playing individual characters and groups of characters, as well as acting as a part of a scene's setting. Portrayed by Aaron Haak, Ella Greer, Chase Bochenek, and Sara Banks, the inventive use of ensemble members throughout the play gave each scene a unique twist. Such creative interpretation was seen in the portrayal of a psychiatrist's office, in which the ensemble members spoke at the same time to depict the voice of the psychiatrist. Another notable demonstration of the ensemble's dexterity in different times and settings could be noticed as they effortlessly transformed from stern adults at a cocktail party to misbehaving kids in an elementary school classroom. With such a skilled team of ensemble members, the group laid the foundation of the play.

The stage presented a variety of different settings with a simple, minimalist set. This design provided imaginative flexibility for each scene, whether it was depicting a classroom or a funeral home. Along with the set, Andrew Joyner's work with the lighting made scenes impactful; dimming or even shutting them off completely at key moments in the play, signaling a transition in time or a sudden event. The attention to detail in costume conveyed important aspects of characters, such as portraying Billy's admiration for Superman through wearing his famous red cape. Moreover, the sound quality was strong, despite face mask covering requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With all of these technical elements so well coordinated, the organization of this production was exceptional, thanks to stage manager Logan Downes.

To some, constructing a barrier to keep away from others is the only way to seek comfort. In Dominion High School's production, we learn that this "Fortress" is one boy's kryptonite, depriving him of what he needs most.

Clare A'Hearn
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Friendships, falsehoods, and fortresses. Life has many obstacles to overcome, but true friends always make their way back to each other and Dominion High School explored the complexity of friendship and relationships in their stellar rendition of "Fortress."

"Fortress," by Michael Scanlan, was developed in the late 1980s and the one-act evolved to its current state with the help of students at the LaSalle Academy in Rhode Island. Dominion High School's production functioned as their submission to the VHSL competition. The piece followed characters Billy and Kim from age 5 to high school. As they maneuvered complicated family relationships and pressure from peers, their friendship grew and was put to the test time and time again. Communication was a reoccurring struggle and the pair used Superman as their catalyst. Supported by an ensemble that transitioned from parents, peers, and psychiatrists, the journey depicted the challenges of growing up.

Maguire Crowe portrayed Billy and with each step of the journey he truly embodied the depicted age. The role required dedication to a range of emotions and Crowe delivered. With particular speech cadences and stances for each age, Crowe's portrayal was authentic. Without missing a beat, Crowe's performance hit each emotional instance with adroit commitment. Lareina Allred played Kim, acting as a narrator of sorts as well as a friend to Billy. In her moments alone recounting the tale, Allred flawlessly captured the attention of the audience. Allred illustrated emotional vulnerability and frustration in her performance as she artfully balanced her outbursts and inner conflicts.

As the show followed the pair as they grew up, Crowe and Allred were tasked with showcasing their development. But, due to the nature of the characters, Crowe handled bringing youth to a mature character while Allred retained childishness even as her character entered high school. Between the deliberate pauses and intentional awkwardness, the duo brought an honest representation of friendship through the years.

The ensemble of the show consisted of Aaron Haak, Ella Greer, Chase Bochenek, and Sara Banks. The group exemplified cohesion and flexibility, taking on a variety of roles throughout the journey. Acting as set pieces, classmates, and dinner party guests, the ensemble's quick reactions during scenes and rapid transitions allowed for the production to smoothly function.

The simplistic technical elements of the production enhanced the actors' emotional vulnerability. Andrew Joyner led the lighting department and masterfully lit the stage with overlapping spotlights that dimmed during transitions. During a jarring car crash scene, Joyner employed the only blackout of the production, signaling the significance of the moment. Further supporting the seamless transitions was Logan Downes, the stage manager. Downes expertly handled the complicated blocking of the ensemble and enabled swift transitions. The technical team supported the performance of the actors and together the elements of the production worked in harmony.

Between a beautiful portrayal of relationships and complete ensemble cohesion, audiences wanted to tear down their own "Fortresses of Solitude" to view Dominion High School's impactful interpretation of "Fortress."

Tori Miller
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Billy! Dominion High School brought themes of love and loneliness to the stage in their recorded production of "Fortress" by Michael Scanlan, which often referenced the beloved and well-known superhero, Superman.

Dominion High School chose this show that was published in 1988 for a one-act competition. It tells the story of Billy, who is only nine years old when he accidentally discovers that he is adopted. Feeling betrayed, he cuts himself off from his parents and everyone around him and builds his own fortress of solitude. The show follows his journey as he grows up and models his life after Superman. It is narrated through the perspective of Kim, a girl the same age as Billy who is frustrated with trying to be his friend after he continues to push her away.

Maguire Crowe portrayed Billy with an outstanding performance. Crowe provided an abundance of energy and embodied his character whether he was playing a nine year old or a teenager. His changes in physicality and vocalization in line delivery assisted with the progression of the story and his character. He had varying levels of emotion with some very strong scenes, and his thoughts and emotions were palpably conveyed every time he spoke. Crowe had strong chemistry with Lareina Allred, who played Kim. Allred spoke her lines with heavy emotion in her voice. She delivered a strong performance and set the tone of each scene. Aaron Haak played Herb, Billy's strict father. Haak had a strong presence that was loud and stood out on stage especially in a scene where he lost his temper and lashed out at Billy. Overall, this was very much an ensemble piece, and every member of the cast came together to tell this story. They worked in unison to help create sets and sound effects in sync to assist with each scene and moved the show along smoothly. There was strong picturization from the cast, and every line could be heard with strong projection and diction.

Lighting was done by Andrew Joyner. The stage was well lit so that every actor could be seen, and the blackouts were perfectly timed with no delays. The job of Stage Manager is no easy task, but Logan Downes seemed to handle it quite well. Downes did an efficient job of making sure everything was in place for this production.

The students in the production effectively collaborated to tell a story with a timeless and valuable lesson. No matter who you are, everyone needs someone in their life who understands them and is there for them. Letting people into your life is important because no one really wants to be truly alone and isolated. Cutting the people who love you out of your life only hurts you and especially them. Even Superman did not remain in his fortress of solitude forever.

Sarah Zakreski
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

Superman and Lois Lane have each other and Billy and Kim have each other. Everyone needs someone to depend on. At its core, "Fortress." performed by Dominion High School, was a captivating show which explored the combination of friendship, malice, and growing up.

Fortress is a 30-minute one-act, written by Michael Scanlan along with students of LaSalle Academy from 1986 to 1987. The story follows two children, Billy and Kim, who are seniors in High School but have grown up with each other since they were five. When Billy was 9, he found out he was adopted and has had trouble with his father ever since. Kim's father died when she was young. The two bonded over their love of Superman and their troubled home lives, yet they were not always friends and were often enemies throughout their school days. As they grew up, the two learned about the importance of friendship and being there for each other.

The play was led by Maguire Crowe as Billy. Crowe embodied Billy with truthful and authentic emotion that showed his character. Crowe's character required him to play a range of ages, which he did convincingly. Working alongside Crowe was Lareina Allred, playing Kim. Allred was expressive in her character and stood out with her high energy and effective emotional connection. This showed most in scenes with her monologues. In addition, Crowe and Allred exhibited strong chemistry, which was showcased in all of the show, but especially in the scenes where they were fighting. Another standout performance was given by Aaron Haak, who played Herb, Billy's adoptive father. Haak grew with his emotions throughout the show and grew angrier and angrier throughout his scenes with Billy. The entire ensemble (Aaron Haak, Ella Greer, Chase Bochenek, Sara Banks) aided in portraying the setting, in scenes such as Billy's birthday, where they played candles. This enhanced the scenes without creating too much of a distraction. Furthermore, the ensemble were all committed to their characters and showed incredible range.

The technical elements in this show were highly successful. The lighting, designed by Andrew Joyner, helped aid in the storytelling. During the car crash scene, the lights blacked out, which added suspense to the outcome of the crash. The lights dimmed during more intense scenes as well. The stage manager, Logan Downes, kept the show running smoothly and without interruption.

The dedication and enthusiasm that each member of Dominion High School's theatre department brought to the show created an impeccable production of "Fortress" that was enjoyable to all who watched.

Tess Jannery-Barney
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

Kids should be seen and heard...and put on a stage. Dominion High School's production of "Fortress" was a glimpse into the emotional growing pains of adolescence, family, friendship, education, and life-altering experiences.

In the 1980s, playwright Michael Scanlan developed this timeless one-act script in collaboration with students from LaSalle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island. The theatrical process of "Fortress" mimicked that of a young child, changing and growing in the world, and reaching maturity in the present day. Now, a group of nine teens from Sterling, Virginia in the techy 2020s worked as an ensemble to tell this universal story.

"Love stinks!" bluntly cried Kim (Lareina Allred.) The tale began to unfold from that first line of unrequited and unconditional love. Drifting in between past and present to tell this nonlinear story of young Billy (Maguire Crowe), narrator, and fellow peer, Kim anchored this onstage journey through a graceful yet comically honest command of the stage.

"It's like being trapped in a phone booth with sixteen flatulent people who just came from an all-you-can-eat bean dinner," Allred sarcastically emoted, speaking to the audience. The tale began to take a turn back in time to a festive funeral home cocktail party as Crowe transformed into an innocent five-year-old iteration of his character. Crowe addressed the adults in the room with a playful softness and childlike longing, which displayed Billy's need to feel understood and accepted by authority figures. In a bubbly adoration for the great Superman, Allred swiftly transported the audience years ahead to the first naïve spark between Kim and Billy. Both actors utilized the symbols within their text, communicating that their shared niche superhero interests were based on their character's experiences from parental neglect. Yet, the "nature or nurture" debate was hardly touched on, for Crowe and Lareina most importantly found refuge through each other as they began to mature.

With high-stakes emotions, quick transitions, and bursting energy, the ensemble of the cast, including Aaron Haak, Ella Greer, Chase Bochenek, and Sara Banks, took on a variety of characters and played a vital part in keeping the plot exciting. They waited in chairs on the stage, omnipotently observing characters feuding front and center, and joined in the action with a cacophony of voices.

"Party chatter, party chatter, party chatter," whispered the ensemble with undertones of argumentative dialogue. In a rise of teenage impulsivity, the actors moved their chairs to a position like sitting in a car, facing stage left. They let out a roar of genuine laughter, and then a howl of blood-curdling screams as Billy crashed the car on the way to a graveyard.

Just as the accident occurred, every light onstage went out, leaving the audience to wonder and imagine what happened to the once lively and motorized high school students. This lighting flourish was skillfully carried out by Andrew Joyner. In a clear understanding of the abstract story, Joyner used a blackout moment to further enhance the creativity of the piece. In addition, the lights were selectively dimmed throughout the show from a sunlight cloud horizon-like wash over the stage curtain, to a moodier and simple faded glow during the actors' heart-wrenching declarations.

Over the course of "Fortress," lines between friends and enemies were crossed, children grew up, and lives were lost. Kids can be cruel. The world can be cruel. "Fortress" articulates that sentiment clearly. But one thing is certain: the kids of Dominion High School can certainly be kind, connected, collaborative, and most of all, imaginative.

Pranav Choudhary
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Blue Ridge Leader

As we grow older, we build walls. The differences that we once celebrated suddenly become our flaws. Dominion High School's production of "Fortress" beautifully demonstrated the trials and tribulations of what it means to be a kid.

Created by Michael Scanlan in collaboration with high school students from 1986 to 1987, "Fortress" is a devised theatre piece that depicts the lives of childhood friends from ages five through high school as they explore together the meaning of parenthood and the complexities of growing up.

As Billy, Maguire Crowe brought intense love and passion to the lead character. With deft vocal projection and emotional control, Crowe devotedly explored Billy's journey from being a naïve pre-kindergartener to an emotionally distant and damaged high school student, with varied vocal expression and physicality clearly distinguishing his character's age across the show.

In mirror image to Billy's centrality was Lareina Allred's Kim. Allred demonstrated a masterful understanding of her character's complexity, moving through different life stages and emotions with ease. Allred's ardor remained unwavering through heartfelt monologues and zealous interactions with Crowe. Together, Crowe and Allred formed a duo powerful in its emotional empathy and cohesiveness.

Most vital in driving the story forward was the show's dynamic ensemble, composed of Aaron Haak, Ella Greer, Chase Bochenek, and Sara Banks. With poignant stage presence, the ensemble found strength in its versatility, going from schoolchildren to parents at a cocktail party to jointly playing a single psychiatrist with finesse. While playing background characters, ensemble members also complemented the set and served as the show's source for sound effects, a true testament to their ingenuity in collaboration.

Innovative stage management from Logan Downes served as a central pillar to the success of "Fortress," with creative use of space and timing and the development of an adaptable yet minimalist set working to tie the show together. Additionally, smooth and vivid lighting work from Andrew Joyner allowed emotional intensity to take center stage, particularly with an intense blackout during a car crash scene.

Childhood is short-lived, and it is vital that teens treasure the little things. With ardor and allure, Dominion High School's "Fortress" was a beautiful beacon of just how impactful adolescence can be.

Elizabeth Tippens
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to DHS Press

Nobody ever said that growing up was easy. Fights with parents, first loves, and navigating the treacherous terrain of the popular kids are among the most complex parts of adolescence. These are some of the themes explored in Dominion High School's production of "Fortress," a one-act by Michael Scanlan that was initially published in 1988 and follows the story of Billy from when he's nine to a teenager.

"Fortress" was the play that Dominion High School decided to use for their VHSL one-act competition piece. The show was beautifully stage-managed by the talented Logan Downes, who created a beautiful foundation for the performance with her attention to detail. Another outstanding technical element that needs to be mentioned is the fantastic lighting done by Andrew Joyner. Joyner knew how to create a unique sense of ambiance throughout the show by utilizing minimal blackouts and spotlights.

With impressive tech to back them up, one can only expect the actors to be just as great, and they surpassed our expectations. The stand-out role of the night goes to Lareina Allred, who played Kim, Billy's friend and love interest since he was a child. Allred carried the show with her expressive features and a true understanding of her character. She also spent a lot of the show as a partial narrator and beautifully helped guide the audience through the tragic events of Billy's life.

Acting alongside the talented Lareina Allred was Maguire Crowe, the show's Billy. Billy is a complex character to understand, as we see throughout the play, and Crowe captured his essence perfectly. His best portrayal of the character was when Billy is eight at the beginning of the show. Crowe played a very believable eight-year-old without making the character seem superficial or too young. Crowe was also very good at being slow and deliberate with his language and attitude as Billy grew up; this helped the audience differentiate between Billy's ages throughout the production.

The time and effort put into the show by Dominion high school shined through in their final product. From the technical elements to their fantastic acting, "Fortress" is a show for the ages. It left the audience wanting more and told us a believable story about childhood that anyone could relate to.