A NOBLE PRODUCTION AT MHCC

The MHCC Theatre Department has begun to perform Kathryn Schultz Miller’s “Sword in the Stone” this week, with busloads of elementary school students from all around the Northwest coming to see the show.

We were fortunate enough to sit in on one of the dress rehearsals to get a glance at the play before the seats were packed full of restless children, and found the production enjoyable.

The script has been brought to life by the students of the Mt. Hood Theatre program, and tailored by the director, Julie Akers, to interact with audience members’ imaginations. There are plenty of parts where the characters break the fourth wall and beckon the audience to help them in their quest, which takes them to the skies, moats, and dragon-infested mountains of Arthurian England. 

All of these elements would not be nearly as exciting if the actors did not bring their individual talents to the characters of Arthurian legend. All but three of actors are first-year students at Mount Hood, and when asked, Akers expressed excitement at being able to work with such young talent.

She said there were some challenges in working with the script when it was handed to her by the department’s head, Mace Archer (who is currently on sabbatical). The script calls for drastic and rapid scene changes that transform the stage from a castle, to the sky, to a field, and to many other difficult-to-depict locations. There are also lots of magic, special effects, and sword fighting in the play, which require a lot more rehearsal time for the actors and tech crew to pin down, in order to put on a smooth performance. 

Despite all of these challenges, the cast and crew has risen to the occasion. Akers said that she can’t wait to return to direct the upcoming spring production at MHCC, “The Miracle Worker.”

 The Theatre Department will open its show on Saturday, Nov. 16 to MHCC students and the general community. Entrance fee is $2, but the amount can be waived if necessary. The curtain rises at 2 p.m.