Cappies Review: Premiere Of 'Lavender' At Albert Einstein High School

By Leah Rajnik of Lake Braddock Secondary School

Forbidden love was in the air in an unnamed European kingdom from a time long ago. Traditions were being broken and romance persevered through allergic reactions and homophobia.

This past weekend, Albert Einstein High School (AEHS) put on “Lavender.” This was the world premiere of the show written by Langston Muller, a graduate of AEHS.

The show followed Leopold Glassman and Daphne Geraldo who both knew their arranged marriage could never work, for they are both secretly gay and in love with other people. A greedy butler and a well-meaning friend end up meddling in the secret love affairs causing chaos in the lovers' lives.

Boaz Levone as Leopold Glassman presented a gentle man, with a sweet charm that won the audience's hearts. Levone's perfect comedic timing, fidgety gestures, and longing glances gave the audience a leading man to root for.

In contrast, Caroline Evans' portrayal of Daphne Geraldo was headstrong and sarcastic. Evans showcased a range of emotions from a defensive to relaxed demeanor depending on who else was on stage.

In a traditional story the leading man is headstrong, and the leading lady is gentle, but Levone and Evans broke this tradition through their excellent performances and commitment to their character work.

Arwyn Hager played notorious busy-body Francine Gascon. Francine grew from a character who spread gossip to the true heart of the show. Bringing a comedic oblivious attitude with heartfelt line delivery, Hager made Francine a likable presence on stage to watch and truly sold the emotions of the character.

“Lavender” was underscored by compositions written by Ray Jewell and Gavin Johannson. Jewell on the violin and Johannson on the guitar composed original works that fit the renaissance setting and adapted songs like Greensleeves and Morning Mood into their performance as well.

Heart shaped spotlights followed characters around the stage, pink and lavender hues filled the backdrop, and specialized lighting gave a forest life thanks to the excellent work of Kaia Condon, Natalie McMurry and the AEHS lighting crew.

Condon and McMurry created their own color palette that was untraditional but fit the mood of the show. The lights went in and went out right as scenes started and stopped due to the precise timing of stage manager Grace Denny. Denny's precision allowed for a show that transitioned expertly from one scene to the next without losing the quick pacing of the play.

From a massive sword that swung wildly around the stage to a bowl of donkey eyes that looked perfectly unappealing, Hayley Brewer, Noam Richman, and the AEHS Props Crew crafted unique props that elevated the scenes they were in.

The set crew, led by Ben Freund, Mads Maarbjerg, and Luke Willis built an enormous throne with a realistic bear head attached to the top which elevated Anjali Shah's Queen Amalia Presternal scene stealing and ferocious performance by giving an eye-catching and imposing backdrop.

Albert Einstein's “Lavender” was full of heartwarming performances, hilarious moments, and unique technical styles that showed the importance of being true to oneself even if that truth breaks tradition.

Tickets for the upcoming performances of "Lavender" on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 at Albert Einstein High School are on sale at www.showtix4u.com. Prices are $15 for adults and $8 for students.