Tucked away on the fifth floor of Marquette Hall, the cast of “In the Blood” goes through their warm-up routine.
It is not limited to the standard exercises vocalists use to limber up. A beatbox “Simon Says,” complete with parroted clapping, jumping, crouching and waving arms, prepares the students for their roles in the modern adaption of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter.”
Laura Hope, assistant theater professor and the director of the production, said that the play is written by Suzan-Lori Parks, the first black woman to win a Pulitzer Prize. “In the Blood” was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, but it was a later play called “Topdog/Underdog” that won her the prize.
“In the Blood” is set in a modern American city. Hawthorne’s tragic heroine, Hester Prynne, has been re-imagined as a homeless, illiterate black woman who is harassed by members of her community.
The character has five children, each with a different father. One of the fathers is the local minister.
Hester is played by theater freshman Ciera-Dawn Washington.
The cast started rehearsing for the play during the second week of school. They were originally meant to begin the rehearsals the first week of classes, but tropical storm Lee delayed them.
“They [the cast] have put in a Herculean effort,” Hope said.
The play presented some extra challenges beyond the time constraints. There is beatboxing and hip-hop built into the production. Hope brought Gamal Chasten of Universes, a theater group that fuses several musical styles to bring something new to American theater, to teach the students beatboxing and hip-hop rhythm tips.
“It was a terrific opportunity for the students and myself. He’s one of the best in the field,” Hope said.
The play is ultimately about how people in a community interact with one another, and how public opinion can make or break someone’s reputation.
“Hawthorne’s novel is about who we were as Americans at a certain time. We like to judge the members of our community. Our compassion is given according to our own biases…to who we deem worthy of it. Compassion isn’t something we should get to choose,” Hope said.
“In the Blood” is for mature audiences only because of scenes with strong language and adult themes.
Lora Ghawaly can be reached at
Ciera-Dawn Washington gets into character as Hester in the theater department’s new play. The production runs until Oct. 8. (CHIKA JOHN/Photo Editor)
Theater senior Andrew Chau, foreground, hides a billy club his character stole from the police officer from Ciera-Dawn Washington, who plays his mother, Hester. Washington’s character says her main goal is to “get her head up” and provide for her children.
Ciera-Dawn Washington as Hester sits on a crate while five townspeople dance around her. The townspeople put down and use Hester because of her station in life. (CHIKA JOHN/Photo Editor)
Hester (Ciera-Dawn Washington) feeds her five children dinner. Each of the actors except Washington have two roles in the production. (CHIKA JOHN/Photo Editor)
