The Lord of the Flies play had an extremely successful run this past weekend with multiple sold-out shows. Now, as the Panther Theater Co students get ready to shovel hundreds of pounds of sand out of the Black Box, teachers and students alike look at the impact of the play and the novel it is based on – a novel that senior students read in their English classes each year.
“It’s a classic,” explains Mrs. Dekoff, “a 12th grade staple.” So much so that senior English teachers. Mrs. Dekoff and Mrs. Knudsen read it in their own classrooms. But why is it so powerful and enduring?
“It’s a thought-provoking piece of literature,” said Mr. Dekoff. “ ‘Would you do this if that?’ Some students don’t believe that humans are savage at heart. We get good discussions out of it.”
The book, typically read at the end of senior year, delves into topics of anarchy, society, and human nature. Its themes about mob mentality and individual thought are among many that teachers think are important for consideration as students go into their adult lives. “My big thing with the kids is that I am always trying to get them to see why we have rules and laws,” says Mr. Dekoff. “But if we don’t follow them, what happens to society?”
“The book is about the breakdown of civility, so we want students to think about how to live to their own better nature,” Mrs. Knudsen added. “We want students to become better voters, citizens, and think for themselves.”
But while seniors read the book every year, this one was special. Lord of the Flies was the Panther Theater Company’s first production of the year, so they invited senior literature students to their own exclusive performance, albeit with a few changes. While for the Black Box version the desert island was re-created with a sandpit, trees, and leaves, having to transfer the story into the auditorium stage means having to rework the entire show.
“The story fully immerses the audience. We didn’t hold back on any of the true elements: the blood, hunting, and death,” describes director Lieze-Adams. “The cast has been rehearsing since before school started and we are taking Act II to SWFTS.”
Lieze-Adams’ first time directing was a resounding success and many seniors had positive feedback for the actors and the performance.
