The Dream of the Burning Boy
The Dream of the Burning Boy
By David West Read
Directed by Beejay Aubertin-Clinton
Starring Gary Norris and Alex Bridgeman
Breakthrough Theatre
Winter Park FL</strong>
Even High School teachers can have deep dark secrets. That’s what makes English Professor Larry (Norris) so hard on his best student Dane (Bridgeman). Dane has his own set of problems; they are the sorts of things you would expect: uncertainty about is future, pressure to conform, a weird sister Rachel (Allie Novell), and unexpected death. Rachel wears pajamas to class and has more attitude than a street gang. She and Dane do an experiment; they swap papers and learn that Morrow DOES grade Dane harder than Rachel. And like all high school student, they are intimidated by Dante’s Inferno and have trouble seeing to their own middle class lives in classic literature. Over enthusiastic guidance counselor Steve (Kyle Kilgallon) offers no help, just sappy inspiration posters that make your teeth wince.
So the ending is cute and hush-hush; even the publisher won’t reveal but it’s solid and mundane enough for tonight’s dramatic purposes. Mr. Norris has the wound up tight and hates his future like any good mid-career high school teacher with the burden of actual students. You know something’s cranked him, and could he please resolve it or at least not let it spread into his professional career? Bridgeman feels like a typical high school student: basically good, mostly ambitious, and ripped by hormones that only a stint in the military will clear up. Novell was often creepy; her antsy sister act snapped answers back before questions were asked, and she always emitted that subtext of “none of your business, screw you for asking.” She just wants to be alone in her self-pity. Count your blessings if you never have to return to those hallowed halls of teen angst and not fitting in with your peers.
For more information, please visit http://www.breakthroughtheatre.com or look them up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Breakthrough-Theatre-of-Winter-Park/
For more information, please visit http://www.breakthroughtheatre.com or look them up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Breakthrough-Theatre-of-Winter-Park/
