NHS drama troupe advances to METG semi-finals with "Ash to a Flame"
ByCameron LoPiccolo, Staff writer
March 14, 2023
Norwood High’s latest award-winning production, “Ash To A Flame,” had an impressive debut on Thursday, March 2, as a send-off before they competed in the first round of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild’s One-Act Play Festival on March 4.
Norwood High’s latest award-winning production, “Ash To A Flame,” had an impressive debut on Thursday, March 2, as a send-off before they competed in the first round of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild’s One-Act Play Festival on March 4.
The play, written by the Drama Troupe class and directed by senior Sarah McCarey takes place in a dystopian society called the System which, like all dystopian societies, suppresses core human emotions such as love and fun.
The story revolves around an orphaned girl named Ash played by senior Emma Naughton, who escapes from the System and finds herself a new home with other System escapees in a ragtag circus. Ash at first doesn’t take well to the circus thinking it’s a trap set up by the System but eventually learns that the circus is a safe haven for people who escape from the System.
Ash befriends all the circus members except Sybil the fortune teller, played by senior Adowa Kwakye, who senses danger in the young escapee. Ash and Ringmaster Fallon, played by senior Liv LeSavage, develop a close relationship as Fallon teaches Ash how to lead the circus and become the next ringmaster after her inevitable death.
The play has obvious parallels relating high school to the System and the performing arts to the circus. The System judges and tries to expel any form of expression and difference turning people into perfect citizens which is how high school treats many people. The play shows people that there are outlets for expression like drama in the world. I really like how the death of Fallon cast a somber mood on the big circus finale which shows how no matter how free of the System, people feel the System still is in control.
The play dabbled with the theme of love in a couple of ways. It had an interesting dynamic of the System not allowing love but the other System escapees telling of the times they were in love and punished for it. It also shows an interesting dynamic between Fallon and Ash which puts a fresh twist on the way that love is often portrayed in theater.
My favorite character in the play was the fortune teller Sybil because they allow the theme of love to shine through dark times when it is implied that Fallon knew her death was unavoidable with Ash in the picture but she let Ash stay in order to protect her.
The lighting designed by sophomore Billy McCann was as always phenomenal and paired with the original music from senior Niko Faller allowed the world of “Ash to a Flame” to really come to life. The use of the spotlights at various instances throughout the play made for an interactive experience for the audience and made it feel like you were in the world with the actors.
Senior Emma Naughton, in addition to playing the lead, also choreographed much of the play. The choreography was well put together with enough circus acts and dance happening in the background to further enhance the world that “Ash to a Flame” was trying to create.
Overall, as a high school student watching a play made almost entirely by high school students for other high school students, I thoroughly enjoyed watching “Ash To A Flame” and implore you all to go see it on March 18 at Norwood High, and support the cast as they try to bring their show to the finals of the METG One-Act Play Festival.