I had the privilege of attending the New London-Spicer High School production of "Frankenstein" (based on the classic novel by Mary Shelley). Director Nathan Braaten, an NLS English teacher, did a wonderful job bringing out both the talents of the young actors and the drama of the play itself.
Sometimes high school plays seem to be primarily vehicles for young amateurs to develop their acting skills, grow in confidence in front of an audience, and work responsibly within a group of peers. Once again, however, the NLS drama department has managed to put on a terrific presentation of a play that fully engrosses the audience and makes one forget that these are young men and women who might just as easily be spending their time on the computer or playing video games, but who instead are able to lose themselves in characters engaged in the joys and struggles common to many of us. The audience benefits from the experience as well.
What a wonderful way to learn more about life, and what a wonderful way to enjoy a few hours with young people who are sharing themselves with us and developing skills they will use as competent and confident adults. I hope our society continues to support the arts in schools. The arts are an important form of expression, a way to explore various aspects of life, and an invitation to everyone to really think about and feel the emotions that make us richly human instead of useful but unfeeling machines.
I encourage you to see this play.
Mary Pieh
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New London
