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Health & Fitness

Experimental Theater Group Visits Westover

Middlebury, Connecticut – Members of Dzieci, an international experimental theater ensemble based in New York City, visited Westover School May 7th to offer a workshop and a performance of Makbet, the troupe’s gypsy interpretation of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.

Dzieci (pronounced “djyeh-chee,” it is the Polish word for “children”) was invited to visit Westover after several faculty members saw two of the group’s recent performances of their experimental productions at The Woodhall School in Bethlehem, Connecticut. As the theater company’s website notes, “Our theatrical creations evolve organically over a long span of time, and a relationship with the world around us is essential. Therefore, public presentations of the work in progress are offered along the way, along with para-theatrical workshops and other communal events, which invite participants to experience the work underlying our most current investigations.”

Kate J. Truini ’09, who directed Westover’s spring term production of Othello, coordinated the ensemble’s visit. After having lunch with several students who have taken part in Westover’s theater productions, the Dzieci ensemble members led a theater workshop with half a dozen students and several faculty members. After a series of individual and interactive movement exercises, the professional actors began working with the Westover students and faculty on learning a monologue from Macbeth, starting with a few lines at a time.

For Victoria Graham ’16 of Baltimore, Maryland, who played the title character in Othello and who has appeared in several other Westover productions, the workshop proved to be “a very eye-opening experience. At first, I thought they were just teaching us acting exercises, but by the end of the workshop I had unknowingly memorized a whole monologue from Macbeth. After the workshop I feel much more comfortable just jumping into whatever work I do in the future and using my body to its potential.”

Dzieci’s production of Makbet was performed in the School’s Performing Arts Center theater but, in keeping with the experimental nature of the ensemble, instead of performing the piece on stage, the troupe selected the darkened space between the theater’s seating risers and the dividing wall with the center’s gallery space. Armed with four large flashlights to spotlight one another, the members of the troupe performed a streamlined version of the Shakespeare play. And, as the troupe has done in other productions, throughout the performance cast members would switch characters in mid-scene, the role changes signaled by the exchange of distinctive hats. “The performance was incredible,” Ms. Graham said. “I can't imagine memorizing a whole play so well that switching characters would be so easy. I felt as if I just fell right into the play, rather than just watching a performance.”

Having just participated in Westover’s production of Othello, Ms. Graham said, watching Dzieci’s Makbet “was definitely a learning experience. I noticed things we could have added into our production, and I also took many mental notes so I can improve my acting in future performances. I loved the fluidity of the characters and how well the emotional pieces were done. Their presence rekindled the passion I have for acting. I learned that physical acting is just as important as using your voice, and that movement plays a huge role in memorization and getting your point across. I feel much more prepared to open myself up to any production that comes my way and to just jump right in. I am so glad they came. I would love to be in an ensemble like that some day.”

Westover is a selective boarding and day school in Middlebury, Connecticut, with 205 students in grades 9-12 from 17 states and 20 countries. The School offers its students more than 20 Advanced Placement courses as well as signature programs in science, engineering, art history, and music.

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