Whether you are in Middle Earth or Homer, Illinois, there is nothing like banding together.
Hobbits in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord Of the Ring Series, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, know that they cannot complete the task of destroying the One Ring, which would allow the domination of Middle Earth, without their friends.
And the production crew behind the Homer Opera House knows that it cannot tell the story of the Hobbits without a community who gets behind the theater, and the opportunity for kids to perform.
On the back of Bob Picklesimers’ Creative Dramatics Workshop, the Homer Opera House will continue its series of Lord of the Rings productions with the spring performance of the “Two Towers.”
The Homer Opera House produced “The Hobbit” and “The Fellowship of the Ring” in 2018.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. March 22, 23, 29 and 30 with matinee performances starting at 2:30 p.m. on March 24 and 31.
Director Joanna Wright began working with her team, including her husband Matt, who is the technical director, in November. The cast of 25 actors, most under the age of 18, began rehearsal at the end of January.
“They have a wide range of theater experience; some have done a number of shows, while others are just starting out, but they share an enthusiasm for telling this story,” Wright said.
“Many of them are playing multiple parts, which presents new challenges: more lines, more blocking, more costume changes. They have really worked hard to learn the lines (several characters like to speak in paragraphs) and to hear what we are envisioning regarding the presentation of the story.”
Delaney Wright, who will continue her education at Parkland College next fall, said her love for theater began with her parents.
“I have been a fan of musical theater and non-musical theater my whole life, but had massive stage fright for most of my life,” she said.
“My first show was Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr. and opening night was my 13th birthday. My parents inspired my love of theater and started me on Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and several musicals from the Golden Age including Oklahoma, The Music Man, The Sound of Music and more.”
The Two Towers and the Lord of the Rings series at the Homer Opera House have really stretched Delaney’s character development and talent.
A fan of the Tolkien series since childhood, Delaney will play Gandalf, Faramir and an Orc.
“What I love about Gandalf is his desire to make the world good, and for evil to fall,” she said. “And his loyalty to his friends is one of his most admirable qualities.
“I love Faramir because he is challenging. He has lived in his brother’s shadow and desires approval, mostly from his own father. He wants to do the right thing and strives for his country to be safe. The Orc is fun because the bad guy is always the most fun.”
With male dominated roles throughout the series, Delaney had to learn new ways to talk, move and gesture to make her characters complete.
“I can’t tuck my hair behind my ear like normal because it is too girly,” she said. “My voice is a soprano, but Gandalf is probably a baritone. So I had to completely tear the character I knew from the books apart so that I could learn to be him.”
Preparing for Gandalf made playing Faramir easier, although Delaney had to create two males voices so that the characters did not sound the same.
“I have been good at accents for a long time, and I owe my British accent to Anna Popplewell playing Susan Pevensie,” Delaney said. “I used to mimic her all the time and now can do royal and cockney British accents on the fly. So my mom said to put that skill to use and my Faramir voice was born.”
Playing these roles may not have been possible for the 18-year-old without the opportunities the Homer Opera House provides, though.
“One of our favorite things about doing shows at the Opera House is that Bob has created an environment with a place for everyone who wants to be involved,” Joanna said.
“Our kids have also done shows with other groups, and we are certainly acquainted with the disappointment of not making a particular cast or not receiving a desired part. We believe community theater needs both types of productions to thrive, and are excited to be a part of furthering that process here at the Homer Opera House.
“You gain experience by actually being part of a production, and not all kids have the opportunity to participate in shows at school or have the resources to pursue private lessons.”
With productions throughout the year instead of just summer or spring productions, the Homer Opera House has also provided a consistency for young actors who want to strengthen their ability to play a character.
All 25 actors in the Two Towers are repeating a role they were cast to play in the Opera House’s 2018 Fellowship of the Ring productions.
“That continuity allows them to develop the relationships between characters in a different way than if we were starting over each time, as well as the chance to develop relationships with each other,” Joanna said.
A home-schooled student, Delaney said the relationships she’s built in Homer are ones that are comforting and that challenge her to grow.
“I like working with other actors because they can see what I’m struggling with and help me,” she said. “Then they will support me when I get better.”
She also said that the directors of the show, her parents, have asked a lot of the cast.
“My parents are demanding things of them that are a complete 180 from what they are used to,” Delaney said. “But they have worked extremely hard and I am so proud of them.”
Tickets for the Two Towers cost $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and $8 for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
