Photo by Nick Stulga
There was an apartment. And in that apartment was a talking lamp and a beast, as well as a fair maiden who happened to live next door. But within it all, there was strife.
The cast of Moraine’s rendition of Reina Hardy’s play “Glassheart” created a sense of emotional turmoil within the viewer.
Mio Ovalle
Freelance Contributor
The cast included veteran Moraine actress Lena Werner playing the role of Only the lamp, Matthew Worsech as the Beast, Natalie Cross as fair maiden Aoife, and Genesis Aranda as the landlady witch. For the most part, the acting was believable and the actors all had great chemistry with each other.
Werner did an especially good job at portraying the emotional turmoil of her character, considering she was playing an inanimate object. Worsech made an impressive Moraine debut, staying true to the Beast’s attitude of self-contempt throughout. Several times in the performance, he used props, such as a mirror and a book, as tools to portray the beast’s hatred towards his inhuman form.
This hatred played into a key theme of the play surrounding the highs and lows of human life.
“Like many dark fairy tales, ‘Glassheart’ is a study in opposites, straddling the line between ordinary and extraordinary, the magical and mundane, and melancholy and hope,” director Leah Cassella said. “Ultimately, it’s about the joy and pain of being human.”
Throughout the play, the audience’s energy–consisting of gasps and laughs–helped to enhance the energy of the characters onstage. During the 15-minute intermission, audience members filled the theater and FPAC lobby to talk about the show.
Despite her character being a bit underdeveloped, Aranda was an intimidating and controlling landlady. Cross gave a convincing performance of Aoife, and it was enjoyable to see how she interacted with the other characters. Adding to the emotional turmoil was unique lighting, designed by Jennifer Kules and Collin Helou.
“Glassheart” was a wonderful show to see on a snowy night. For a brief couple hours, you could lean back in your seat and completely forget about a world being blanketed with white.
