‘The Laramie Project’ is not for the faint of heart.
“It’s a very crucial story that needs to be told, I don’t think everybody understands the wrongness of hate crimes and discrimination. East Lyme is welcoming, but a very conservative town. If we can change one person’s mind, we can change a life,” sophomore and actor Cameron D’Ettore said.
D’Ettore plays several characters, including Aaron McKinney, one of main character Matthew Shepard’s murderers. After many weeks of hard work and dedication from the actors, this heart- wrenching performance is sure to leave playgoers with a new perspective on issues that impact the ELHS community today as they dive into the murder of college student Matthew Shepard due to his sexuality, and the impact it had on his town of Laramie, Wyoming. Through a unique style of interview and testimonial format scenes, it shows the impact one event can have all around the world.
The dark themes and story of the play may make some audience members uncomfortable, but its message of acceptance is invaluable.
“This was a very different experience in comparison to ‘The Little Mermaid’ last year. It’s very dark, whereas last year, it was very lighthearted,” sophomore Madison Miller said. It has been several years since they’ve done a drama, which was “A Piece Of My Heart” in 2019, and for many actors, it’s their first dramatic performance. While the play this year will be very different, it won’t be any less incredible.
Students and other playgoers may have some concerns about the school performing ‘The Laramie Project,’ as the play’s themes may be seen as too mature for a school setting, or that the play’s raw and emotionally charged discussions on issues that still affect us today may be too intense for some audiences. The actors, however, have thought about these concerns, and are keen to voice their own thoughts on the performance.
“Initially I thought it wasn’t a good idea. I was worried for my castmates, and myself. But now I realize this is why we’re doing it. I think this show might have the power to change some people and encourage them to stop saying slurs or being passively homophobic. I think at least one person will go home and reflect. That, for me, is worth it,” junior Jane Campbell said.
Of course, with such a dramatic and serious play, the actors need to have a level of maturity to be able to handle it,
because of its complicated themes and its heavy story. This is partially why the cast is much smaller than years past.
“The director [Sarah Kelly] wanted to ensure the actors knew how to handle the show. It’s not as much of a people-draw as past performances. The original cast had 10 people. It’s traditionally a very small cast.
That’s how it was written. Many drama performances are small cast,” Campbell said. Performing “The Laramie Project” could provide an opportunity for students to engage in important discussions about hate, inclusivity, and tolerance, and its ability to inspire truly shows its impact on audiences. It’s a touching story of a community brought together by tragedy.
“It has a deeper meaning. It can really educate people on the wrongness of discrimination, it’s incredibly meaningful and based on a true story, it’s touching and shows signs of hope, ” D’Ettore commented.
