Veteran Cast Takes On Comedy

Jennifer Moore, staff writer

“Lion in Winter” rehearsals continue, opening night approaches

As opening night approaches for the South Plains College theater program’s production of “The Lion in Winter,” some of the cast and crew have been working hard and are eager to perform.

Jerred Tochterman, a three-semester veteran of the theater program, will be taking on the role of King Henry II.  Tochterman is a junior at Texas Tech University, and has previously performed for SPC in “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Dearly Departed,” “Carnival,” “Frozen” and “Man of La Mancha.”

“It’s a very demanding play,” he said.  “The language in it is very difficult.  The mood and the actual blocking of everything is hard to time together, but I think it’s going along fairly well.”

Sophomore Mariel Ramirez will join Tochterman onstage as the king’s wife, Eleanor.  Ramirez has performed at SPC for 2 ½ years in plays, including “Man of La Mancha,” “Frozen,” “Marvin’s Room,” “Carnival,” “Arsenic and Old Lace,” “Dearly Departed” and “Swing.”

Ramirez explained why the play appealed to her.

“It’s kind of a cross between a very, very funny comedy and it has very serious issues in it,” she said.  “It’s basically the story about a family.  It could be a modern family, but it doesn’t have to be a king or queen or princes, just any kind of family.”

Sophomore Faith Lowery will be playing Alias, a French princess.  Lowery has been performing onstage since she was in junior high.

“I love this play,” she said.  “It’s so funny.  It’s everyone’s messed up family.  It just shows that everyone has always had messed up families.”

The experienced cast also includes sophomore Brett Aiken.  Aiken has been performing in SPC plays since 1998, appearing most recently in “Man of La Mancha,” “Little Abner,” “Swing,” “Sound of Music” and “1776.”

“We’re being held up on the set right now because we’re waiting for materials to come in,” said Aiken.  “But as far as rehearsals are going, everyone’s coming together.”

The actor also said that the play will have some differences from the two movies of the same title.

“They made two movies of it,” he said.  “The script was written as a comedy, but both of the movies have been dramatic, so Gene Cole, the director, is trying to do the comedic version.”

Sophomore Josh Samsel will be playing John, Henry’s youngest son.  Samsel has been performing in plays since he was 11 years old and has performed in previous SPC shows.

“The play is very funny,” he said.. “It’s got subtle parts to it that you just have to come see to see how it goes.  It’s a very funny show.  It has a very strong cast.”

Sophomore Robert Sullivan will play Richard Lionheart, Henry’s oldest son.  This play will be his second for SPC.

“It’s wickedly funny,” he said about the play.  “I love it.  It’s so morbid and dark at times, but it’s lighthearted at times.”

Sophomore Josh Watson will play Philip, the King of France.  He is in his second year as an SPC actor.

“It’s very good,” he said.  “It’s kind of a British humor, so you have to look a little harder to find the humor.  It’s not out there and in your face.”

Freshman Michal Blackburn is the stage manager for the play.  She has been involved in theater since she was 13 years old.  Blackburn said that the play was progressing smoothly.

“I think it’s going really well,” she said.  “I think we’re going to have a great play.”

The play opens on Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m.  It will run nightly through Oct. 8, and there will be a matinee on Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets for the play are $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for staff and faculty. For more information, contact Gene Cole at 894-9611 ext. 2266.