AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
Young singers and actors looking for a way to escape the winter doldrums couldn’t have asked for a more exciting opportunity than winning a role in Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church’s ambitious production of “The Prince of Egypt”. Based on the biblical book of Exodus, the musical is currently in rehearsal and will debut on March 13th.
We arrived at last Saturday’s rehearsal just in time to view a scene where armed Egyptian guards used weapons and whips to ensure that Hebrew slaves raising baskets of building blocks up pyramid walls and others carrying the blocks to the site were kept in line. There was more than a touch of drama as the action played out.
As “Prince of Egypt” director David Merrill was blocking, or choreographing, portions of the musical on Saturday, the scenes we observed were done out of order and without lines being recited. Blocking was particularly important because Woods’ musical productions are performed in the church sanctuary using the three-tiered Chancel as the stage. According to Merrill, performing there is the ultimate theater-in-the-round experience.
“We are so fortunate that Woods Church allows us to use the sanctuary for our productions,” he said. “However, doing a musical there requires that we transport every piece of scenery onto the stage at the beginning of the show and throughout each act using prop handlers/actors to move props in and out as the scenes change. When the rehearsal or performance is over, every piece of scenery and prop must be removed and the space left empty.”
We watched as the first part of scene six was rehearsed featuring two sledges full of stone blocks (actually made of foam) being pulled toward the pyramid from opposite sides of the sanctuary by actors playing Hebrew slaves.
While that was happening, Rose and Maynard were practicing in an aisle next to us – with Rose snapping his whip behind Maynard who, without benefit of a stone block mimicked holding one while practicing his moans and screams. Later, the poor slave was handed a block, and we watched the pair’s progression up the aisle with Mayard ascending the final pyramid step near collapse. Overseeing the scene from behind him, Merrill offered guidance.
According to Rose, it was fun using the whip. But he noted that he must snap it to the side, making sure not to hit Maynard…or the audience.
“Luckily, we’ll be raised up on a platform running the length of the aisle which should help,” he said. “I’ll work with our fight choreographer to be sure I’m as safe as possible.”
Though out of order, a poignant scene featuring an adult Moses, played by Ian Scrite, and Yocheved played by Sarah Kent came next. Having been raised by Egyptian Queen Tuya, Moses has just learned that Yocheved is his true mother.
In a scene that followed, Moses attacks and accidentally kills an Egyptian guard who was whipping a Hebrew slave – a complicated scene which called for the slave to fall backwards off the step and required some direction from Merrill.
While that was taking place onstage, there was a sudden stirring among actors not in the scene as they noticed some actors were beginning to appear in costume.
Excitement built as actors and dancers were seen congregating at the back of the sanctuary. Costumer Susan Bohlman and her assistant Perry Swift had begun distributing costumes.
Swift, set up in the hallway, was providing costumes for the dancers with help from volunteer Jacquei Shade.
Dancers representing slave laborers wore one sort of costume while those serving Queen Tuya found themselves in something more elaborate.
Meanwhile, longtime Woods costume designer, Bohlman was fitting the more complicated clothing worn by the actors. We encountered John Rose there being fitted for his guard uniform while Jeffrey Maynard was one of those waiting. Bohlman was satisfied with the look of Rose’s costume but cautioned him and all the other guards and slaves to take off their shirts and pants, an order with which he eventually complied.
With a large cast, Bohlman needed an immense range of costuming and, judging from her multiple racks of clothing, she could fill the bill, from Pharoh Seti’s royal robe to the slaves’ sleeveless top and simple kilt known in ancient Egypt as a shendyt.
The variety of clothing worn by women was widest, spanning both the Hebrew and Egyptian cultures and ranging from royals to townspeople or slaves. As some of the guard roles were assumed by women, there was also a necessity for capes to cover the briefer guard uniforms.
All the while, the rehearsal continued. Interestingly, the last scene rehearsed was the opening scene. It was set in the era when Egyptian soldiers, under orders to kill all Hebrew firstborn boys, snatched babies from their mothers’ arms. Consequently, newborn Moses was placed in a basket by his heartbroken mother Yocheved who sings him a lullaby as she sets him afloat on the Nile. The second part of the scene shows Queen Tuya in her garden with her own baby son Ramses. Tuya spots Moses drifting in the bullrushes, rescues him and adopts him to raise as her own along with Ramses.
The scene ends with a full chorus of Hebrews singing the song “Deliver Us”.
Woods Church will be presenting the epic musical “Prince of Egypt” featuring music and lyrics by Grammy and Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz beginning Friday evening March 13 at 7:30 pm.
The performance dates are March 13 thru 15 and March 19 thru 21. Tickets are available now and are $20. To see times and dates for the show and to order tickets, visit Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails highlights building of new Hatton-Regester Green gazebo
Local and B&A Trail users will be happy to know that work has begun on the construction of a new Hatton Regester Green gazebo! The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails report in the latest “Trail Talk” that Severna Park’s Hatton Regester Green was The Friends’ first project and is over 25 years old. They note that the original gazebo – the scene of many wonderful concerts and ceremonies – has been removed and the county is building the new structure. We look forward to enjoying the gazebo as the future stage for The Friends summer Concert Series.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
