Cappies Review: Lake Braddock's 'Island of Dr. Moreau'

• PHOTO (from left to right): Gillian Church, Idan Woodruff, Trent Crocker, Kendra Weingast, Breese Sherman; photo by Jamie Grove
• By Brittany Geier of Teens and Theatre

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- What happens when a man's unchecked ambition to play God and make his mark on the world drive him to abandon all human sentiments of compassion and morality? Lake Braddock Secondary School's performance of The Island of Dr. Moreau presented a terrifying, thought-provoking view of morality and man's pursuit of knowledge.

Since its publication as a science fiction novel in 1896, H.G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau has been adapted into numerous films and stage productions. This terrifying, thought-provoking tale tells of a young Englishman, Edward Prendick (Idan Woodruff), who is shipwrecked on a secluded island in the Pacific. He encounters Dr. Moreau (Breese Sherman), an obsessed man who is consumed by his desire to create his own race of perfect humans. Through the process of vivisection, he transforms the various animals on the island into beings that possess both human and animal characteristics. These creatures wander freely about the island where they live out a "travesty of humanity," complete with their own laws and assemblies.

Lake Braddock's production was anchored by the outstanding cast of characters comprising the "Beast Folk," the human-animal hybrids which Moreau creates. The actors in this ensemble never broke character during the entire show, delivering unnerving performances of tortured, mutilated animals complete with uncanny animal shrieks and terrifying facial expressions. Their use of the theater aisles greatly enhanced their performance and connection with the audience.

Playing the shipwrecked Prendick, Idan Woodruff portrayed his character's journey from a passive observer of events to a key thinker who voices his misgivings about Moreau's experiments and helps repress a rebellion of the Beast Folk. Kendra Weingast as Dr. Moreau's assistant, Ellison Montgomery, aptly displayed her character's development from a passionate, loyal follower of Moreau to a skeptic who begins to doubt the ethical justifications for his gruesome experiments. Portraying the eccentric Dr. Moreau, Breese Sherman delivered the perfect blend of pragmatist and monomaniac as he spoke in a matter-of-fact manner about his ardent desire to form his own race of humans.

Several actors portraying various members of the Beast Folk contributed significantly to the show's unnerving yet captivating atmosphere. As M'Ling, the friendly human-dog hybrid that attends Dr. Moreau and Montgomery, Micaela Harmon brought a refreshing and innocent presence to a show dominated by hideous, unpredictable creatures and calloused humans. Max Grove (the Ape) was an instant hit with the audience, arresting their laughter and compassion as he formed an immediate bond with Prendick and died urging the other Beast Folk to cleave to the Law established by Moreau. Portraying the Leopard, who incites a rebellion of sorts against Moreau and his Law, Kate Sharman was truly terrifying with her ravenous snarls and ghastly, over-the-top murders of Moreau and one of his Beast Folk specimen.

The lighting crew's work was spectacular, particularly when used on the set backdrop to convey a certain mood -- for example, blood-red lighting corresponded with the murder scenes. Occasionally, the cast's energy seemed to lag, yet their intensity during the scenes with the Beast Folk enthralled the audience and contributed to the show's spine-chilling atmosphere. Despite occasional lapses in articulation, on the whole the cast spoke clearly and audibly, especially considering that several actors mixed their own voices with animal sounds.

Lake Braddock's production of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" thrilled and captivated the audience with its sobering, terrifying view of the danger of human ambition when unchecked by compassion and ethical standards.