by Calvin Moisan

On Wednesday, January 23, a group of 16 Hebron Academy students took an evening field trip to the Community Little Theater of Lewiston, Maine. Some of the students were in the Gay Straight Alliance, some were part of a class trip, some participate in Hebron drama and some were there just because they wanted to be. By the end of the evening, these students had all been equally blown away by The Laramie Project, the story of a young gay college student who was brutally murdered.

Along with the others who went to the show, I had the feeling this would be a cheesy story, which followed Mathew Shepard through his experiences in college up to his death. Our ideas of a mediocre melodrama were quickly shattered by a deeply moving performance. The Laramie Project follows eight members of a New York theater company, who conducted interviews with the people of Laramie, Wyoming, following the tragedy of Matthew Shephard. In this way, the play can be best explained as a theatrical documentary. Very interestingly, the eight actors Don Libby, Mary At Lessard, Jackie McDonald, John Blanchet, Mathew Delamater, Mark Hazard, Mariah Perry, and Becky Shor, played the reporters as well as those being interviewed.

One of the many roles played by Libby was that of a Limousine driver named Doc O'Connor, who had met Mathew Shepard on one occasion. A down-to-earth kind of guy with a good heart and a sense of humor, Doc O'Connor was definitely Libby's best performance. Rancher Eileen Engen was played by Mary At Lessard, who's Midwestern accent combined with her physical acting to comical effect. Jackie McDonald's greatest success lay in her performance of Gil Engen, the officer who was first on the scene of Mathew’s beating. Matt Galloway, an aspiring actor, student, and someone who knew Mathew Shepard personally, was played beautifully by Mathew Delamanter. Delamanter was able to convey the sensitive yet determined character of Matt Galloway. Mark Hazard, as Sargent Hing, was a stern disciplinarian with a soft heart. The best performance of Mariah Perry as Zubaida Ula, a middle eastern woman raised in the U.S. who finally decides to embrace her culture. Perry's performance was comical, but also quite serious. Young actress Becky Shor took me completely by surprise. Her best character was Romaine Patterson, a good friend of Mathew Shepard, who's story was very serious, and chivalrous. Shor was able to convey deep sadness and hurt, as well as determination. Most notable was actor John Blanchette, who played the part of Mathew Shepard's Father, Dennis Shepard. Blanchette delivered a deeply moving monologue that spoke of Mathew and reminded parents to hold their children close to their hearts.

Each actor played about ten roles, seamlessly transitioning between each one. It was the chameleon-like performance of the actors as well as the compelling story line that made the show such a brilliant success.

As I came out of the theater, I felt a strong sensation to go out and take a stand, make a change. I doubt that any person who left that theater that night was not deeply affected by such an emotional show.