Cappies Review: Woodson High School’s Lear Captivates with Commanding Performances and Haunting Design
Fairfax County Public Schools students are talented actors, musicians, and visual artists. Many FCPS high schools participate in the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Critics and Awards Program for High School Theatre, otherwise known as the Cappies.
The Cappies is a program through which high school theater and journalism students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers. There are fifteen Cappies chapters across the United States and Canada.
Editor's Note: This review of Lear by William Shakespeare was written by Lucy Baboyian of Annandale High School.
A steady beat of drums pounded through the theater like thunder as Queen Lear stormed on stage, her commanding presence a warning of the turmoil on the horizon.
Lear, Shakespeare's timeless tragedy, explores themes of pride, betrayal, and madness. When Queen Lear attempts to divide her kingdom amongst her three daughters, her plan soon goes awry. She finds herself betrayed by those she trusted most, stripped of power, and ultimately abandoned. This descent exposes the devastating cost of pride and the fragile nature of loyalty.
In the role of the titular character, Charlotte Willmore's Queen Lear was a masterclass in transformation. From her first step on stage, Willmore captured Lear's authority with a distinct, hunched posture, leading with her neck and head like a proud but weary stag. This physicality projected both Lear's strength and growing vulnerability, establishing her commanding yet exposed presence. Willmore's facial expressions were powerful, transitioning with precision from regal control to raw despair, illuminating Lear's journey from strength to shattered fragility. By her final, disheveled state, Willmore conveyed Lear's humanity with heart-wrenching poignancy, drawing the audience deeply into her tragic unraveling.
While Willmore anchored the production, Silas Blocker's portrayal of Edgar, Gloucester's loyal son, perfectly balanced humor with genuine heart. His exaggerated gestures and deep commitment to physicality made Edgar's comedic moments highly engaging, while also revealing the character's inner resilience. Blocker adeptly traced Edgar's growth from a figure of comic relief to one of strength and tenacity. In contrast, Aiden Brennan brought Edmund, the illegitimate son, to life with wicked charm and calculated malice. Brennan's interactions with other characters, as well as with the audience, emphasized Edmund s cunning nature. Both actors handled complex tonal shifts with immense skill, bringing rich nuance and depth to their roles.
The addition of live music added another layer of emotional resonance to the performance. Inspired by traditional Shakespearean practices, the three added songs featuring Allie Macdonald as the Ritual Singer intensified Lear's haunting atmosphere. The music blended harmoniously with the action, heightening the audience s connection to the characters and their emotional arcs.
The lighting and sound design, led by Jordan Freedy and Olivia Raimondo, worked together seamlessly, particularly during the exceptional storm scene. Thunderous drums and flickering lights heightened the tension, making Lear's descent into madness all the more visceral. A student-designed rain effect heightened the intensity, physically enveloping Lear in a storm that mirrored her inner turmoil. Hair and makeup, led by Anabelle Perez Gabon, used animal motifs to blur the line between human nature and primal instincts, revealing each character's raw drives beneath their exteriors. This symbolism allowed the audience to sense the instinctual forces at play behind every decision. These thoughtful design choices enhanced the performance and enriched the overall impact of the show.
As Lear's kingdom crumbled, Woodson High School's production rose to the occasion to deliver a mesmerizing portrayal of treachery and madness -- an unforgettable triumph.
