Gidion’s Knot is a play that unravels as it progresses. A grieving mother shows up to the parent teacher conference she had scheduled before the loss of her son, much to the surprise of his teacher. Gidion’s mother, Corryn wants answers from the school teacher, Heather, as to why her son was suspended from school which, as Corryn believes, is the reason her son took his life.
This play, set in present time, challenges the relationships between parent and child as well as that between child and teacher. Corryn argues that the school system pushing children into a box, subsequently limiting them, is at the core of the issues children have with becoming enlightened, mature individuals. Heather feels that she has the obligation as a teacher to protect the children and their innocence.
Krystal Glover plays Heather, Gidion’s school teacher. This actress was remarkable with her portrayal as the guilt ridden educator who may have either been the cause of or at least the catalyst for the child’s suicide. After Gidion’s mother openly states her son’s hatred of the teacher, Krystal’s Heather did all she could to keep her professional composer while falling apart internally as the show progressed. This actress’s ability to stay in every moment was effortless. I could not have appreciated the work she did any more. The internal torment that Krystal was able to portray left me feeling guilty for hating the character so much at the opening of the show.
Natalie Bulajic plays Gidion’s mother Corryn. I had the opportunity to work with this actress during my high school theater days. I was overjoyed to see her perform for the first time in a few years. From the beginning of this play, Natalie lead this show with bold vigor. As one would suspect of a mother three days after her son’s suicide, Corryn was robotic in many of her statements with frantic moments of anger followed by collapses into grief. I was lost in this performance like I haven’t been in a long time. Natalie was able to deliver lines in the play that were ironically funny and made you feel like it was inappropriate to laugh and then turn on a dime and leave you feeling like there was a pit in your stomach that may never go away. I can imagine a numbness possibly setting in after doing this show multiple times, but Natalie brilliantly made this performance unique. It was truly an honor to watch both of these women in this production.
The set was designed by Theater On The Edge co-founder Samantha DiGeorge and is dressed in a form known as Hyperrealism. This type of set pays attention to detail in a way that invites the audience into a space that is so real it feels as though they are in an actual space as opposed to a conventional theater set which requires the audience to use more of their imagination. I can appreciate the effect this has in this small theater which seats roughly 30 people. I definitely felt I was in a classroom. From the projector to the borders around cork boards right through a small window next to the classroom door which lead down the hall and even had a different fluorescent type hallway lighting different to the lighting in the classroom. In short, Samantha don’t play! I’m not sure a set like this would work on a bigger stage (also, how much would that cost?) but I wouldn’t mind seeing someone try it.
Brava to Director Pam Harbaugh and the cast of Gidion’s Knot. Can’t wait to see what else Theater On The Edge has got in store.
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