'The Song at the Scaffold'
By Maya Moore | News, Copy Editor
The theater department will perform “The Song at the Scaffold” Nov. 6-8, a play which is based on a true story. Student tickets cost $6 and adult tickets cost $8. The play tells the story of Carmelite nuns who were guillotined during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror in 1794. The main character, Blanche, is entering the convent at the time. Although she is entirely fictional, her perspective guides audiences through historical events and the persecution of 16 real nuns.
“It’s based on a book that I read when I was in eighth grade, and the story always stuck with me,” director Gabriel Heffernan said. “I thought it’d be good because we’re Kapaun Mt. Carmel, so we have Carmelite roots, and we have a plethora of girls in the department, so there’s plenty of roles for them.”
Senior Jasmine Barnard plays Blanche. Barnard has participated in four shows as a member of crew, but is on the cast for the first time with her fifth show. Her character grows throughout the show as she deals with her own internal issues and finds solace in a sense of belonging.
“She has modern-day issues that are very highlighted, that would be taken care of but, because it’s during the Reign of Terror, it looks like she’s crazy,” Barnard said. “... She at first doesn’t know how to calm herself, but gradually she starts to learn that she needs a community and that the community actually wants her. And so, she turns those fears into a blessing and she has a sense of comfort and security, and she keeps herself open instead of closed.”
Senior Jaylynn Sharau, also participating in her fifth show at KMC, acts as Reverend Mother of the Carmelite sisters, guiding them through difficult times, using her wisdom and humility.
“The thing with this Reverend Mother is that she has not been the Reverend Mother for the entire duration that she’s been a sister, you know?” Sharau said. “You can see that she’s very humble, but she’s very firm. She knows what’s up, but she’s more than willing to hear everyone else’s opinions.”
Since the play is based on a true story, the actors have researched their real-life counterparts to better understand how they are supposed to act.
“Mr. Heffernan has done this thing where even though you don’t have a speaking role, you do have a sister’s name, which is like an actual sister from Compiègne, you know?” Sharau said. “And, so everyone has a name, so they researched that person. They get to learn that these sisters were actual people … And that research, it just makes you feel like a lot more connected to the character, you know, in a way that’s any other preparation I don’t think would have ever done justice.”
In “The Song at the Scaffold,” the visual elements of the play are of less importance. Rather, it is focused on the history portrayed.
“It’s not necessarily super realistic,” Heffernan said. “It’s meant to be more abstract and a little bit surreal, and so there’s kind of splashes of reality. And, it’s more focused on the dialogue and the actual story rather than the spectacle of the scenery and the costumes and things like that.”
Assistant stage manager sophomore Abigail Skubitz was hesitant, thinking the play would be uninteresting as it was simply about history. But, it surprised her with the captivating portrayal of the story and dramatization of the events.
“I thought it was gonna be super boring,” Skubitz said. “But, after watching it and watching them act it out, I’m like, ‘okay, this is really interesting.’ And there’s some parts that I’m, like, ‘that’s crazy how people would do that.’”
Senior Jacob Boyzuck, stage manager for the show, described the importance of the play due to the history behind it, as well as the spiritual and emotional aspects of it.
“I think it’s an important part of our history, of our world history,” Boyzuck said. “I think it can teach us a lot about our faith as well. … I also think it’s a very moving drama, and I think it will move a lot of hearts.”
At its core, the play produces a message about faith and community that all of us can relate to.
“Because we go to a Catholic school, I think it can show a lot of people how to be true to their faith, even when they don’t want to be, because Blanche has a lot of trouble staying true to her faith and actually trusting, and not even in her faith, but like trusting in her community,” Barnard said. “And, this can really help you trust in others and trust in God’s word even when you’re in a hard time, you can still be able to find that time to just pray.”