When the lights go down after a scene has been performed, the audience’s normal behavior is to applaud – applaud for what they have already seen, and to express their excitement to see more. 

   Sunday afternoon, the audience in Hugo Young Theatre was unusually quiet for most of the show, only clapping once or twice between scenes, saving their applause and approval for the ending bows. 

   While the running joke is that actors, like Tinkerbell, need applause to live, the silence in the theatre paid the cast and crew a great compliment. The performance displayed before the audience was a powerful one, leaving them quiet and thoughtful. 

   “Enchanted April” is a comedic treasure, delivering adorable scenes accompanied by laughs. 

However, the underlying topics and lessons easily envelope the audience, creating moments to ponder and contemplate. 

   The play could not place such an effect on the audience had it not been for the actors carefully chosen for each role. 

Senior Madeline Beer shone as the lead character, Mrs. Lotty Wilton, a woman living a comfortable life with her husband. Lotty is not satisfied with her life, however, feeling lost and unsure of how to continue on. 

   Beer’s energy and professionalism was abundant; her presence filled the stage. Beer conveyed the emotion and determination of her character well, striking a tone with the audience. Her lines provoked laughs, sighs and murmurs of agreement as she effortlessly portrayed Lotty’s distress and desires for life. 

   There are times when lead characters can become boring; they can be unchanging and flat, allowing the side characters to create a more fond impression on the audience. This is rarely the playwright’s fault, but the actor’s, who can become passive because the supporting roles carry much of the comic relief. There was no way that this would happen with Beer as a lead.

   Beer was in great company, as her co-lead Tara Kodosky took on the character of Mrs. Rose Arnott, who becomes Lotty’s good friend and is also unhappy with where she is in life. Kodosky’s character brought a more somber note to the play, bringing in questions of religion and proper behavior for a woman in the 1920s. 

   While Lotty isn’t very proper and says what is on her mind, Rose is much more refined and worries how to balance her desires with what is expected of her as an appropriate woman. Kodosky’s acting was spot-on, delivering solemn or serious lines without over-acting or coming on too strong.

   Mellersh Wilton is Lotty’s husband and was played by Austin Arnold. As a husband, Mellersh is something of a problem to Lotty, simply because she feels held back but is unsure why. When Lotty tries to explain that she needs to get away, Mellersh is resistant and doesn’t understand. 

   While Arnold excelled as the upset husband, his best moment came later on in the play, when Lotty and he are trying to reconcile their differences. 

Not wishing to spoil anything, let it suffice to say that Arnold had the privilege of delivering the most laughs in the shortest amount of time.

   Brittany Hartman played Costanza, a cook and servant that comes into the women’s lives as they rediscover themselves. 

While none of Hartman’s lines were in English, the actress connected with the audience immediately and was a favorite. Not only did Hartman deliver her lines perfectly, making the audience laugh every time, but she easily made the audience understand what she was saying while only speaking Italian. 

   Hartman should also be praised for her hair and makeup designing, which were excellent and appropriate for each character. 

   The crew performed their assigned jobs seamlessly, with no mistakes or falters. The play ran smoothly and the set was very impressive. 

The first half of the play took place in front of the curtain, with small props to create the feeling of living rooms, a church and a train. 

After the intermission, the curtain opened to reveal an impressive set in the style of an Italian castle and several audible gasps could be heard around theater. 

   However, the most striking scene was the last one, where  Beer stood alone, delivering her final lines in front of the castle, with soft light surrounding her and flower petals falling from the sky. It was a stunning final glance at a truly enchanting play.

   “Enchanted April” will be performed at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 24 – 25 in Hugo Young Theatre. Students will only pay two dollars with student ID.