A little piece of history
Theatre Department puts on production about England’s King Henry VIII
Stage — The all-student cast of “A Man for All Seasons” takes audiences back to 16th century England. Photo credit: Ty Hester
The audience of “A Man for All Seasons” was transported back in time to 16th century England as the theatre department opened its first show comprised solely of Liberty students Friday, Oct. 17.
The play is set during the beginning of the English Reformation. It focuses on the beginnings of King Henry VIII’s affairs — specifically his divorce from Queen Catherine and his marriage to Anne Boleyn — and how one man, Sir Thomas More, opposed it. When the king rejected the laws of the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarriage, More remained loyal to the traditional teachings of the church.
The play provided cast members with an opportunity to learn more about the history behind the plot.
“I didn’t even know about this story before I auditioned,” Liberty senior Steven Burgos, who portrays the Duke of Norfolk, said. “I wasn’t too familiar with the time period at the beginning of the rehearsal process. I read lots of biographies on the duke to get to know his history with relationships and marriages, his position with politics in England, as well as his relationships with the other characters.”
Portraying characters much older than the actors’ actual ages presented the cast with several challenges.
“We’re playing characters far beyond our years and in situations where the stakes are much higher than anything we’ve come into contact with so far in our lives,” senior Whitney Tatum, who plays More’s wife Alice, said. “The biggest challenge is making that leap in terms of years and experience (as an actor) and making it truthful and honest so that the audience is able to engage in the suspension of disbelief. (We don’t want them) sitting there looking at college actors trying to act older. (We want them) to really buy into us as our characters.”
Director Neal Brasher also saw the level of truth in acting as a learning experience for the cast.
“The biggest challenge for me as a director was getting the students to rise to a level of performance where they really sounded truthful and not just people reciting lines,” Brasher said. “It really needs to sound like a real conversation.”
According to Brasher, the plot focuses on a man who, despite all the forces around him, stands up for what he believes and takes a stand for what he
believes is right.
“More is such a fantastic man because, above all else, he treasured his conscience,” senior Caleb Towns, who portrays Thomas More, said. “It was very rewarding and challenging for me to understand what it means to have that deep of a relationship with God. You’re willing to sacrifice everything you have to
do the right thing.”
Tatum said she hopes audiences will be challenged in terms of their own beliefs as well as the oaths and promises they make and sticking to them. She also encouraged people to examine their hierarchy of loyalty when it comes to faith.
“Sometimes people might place it as friends, family, then God,” Tatum said. “But for Sir Thomas, it’s God, family and friends. He’ll sacrifice everything else if it means being able to stand before God and (having) a clear conscience.”
The play runs through Oct. 26 in the Tower Theater. More information about the show and the Department of Theatre Arts can be found online at liberty.edu/theatre.
MAURER is a feature reporter.