The Laramie Project Analysis

Linda Nguyen
Mrs. Vale-Suarez
Survey of Literature, Period 3
October 31, 2008
Extra Credit: The Laramie Project

Lane Tech College Preparatory has chosen to do a play on The Laramie Project, a non-fiction story of discrimination upon homosexual and the hate crime of Matthew Shepard’s murder in 1998. The story takes place in Laramie, Wyoming, based on hundred of interviews afterward the murder, and re-enacts in chronology of the murder. It truly is a really serious and important subject to touch upon but, Lane Tech failed to show it to its full extend and beauty the production could have been. The sound system was horrible during the performance. Finance seemed to be a problem; the costumes for example were pitiful. Last but not least
The actor’s voices weaving in and out of the monitors. The volume changing ever now and then, giving a surprise and scare to the loud voice and letting the audience feel clueless at the low voices, that they are not able to pick up. For audiences sitting near the back, at points in the play, it was hard to hear what the actors were saying. When many group of actors were saying different things it was impossible to be able to make out what any of the groups said. And underneath the of the actors’ voice, in the background there was a buzz flying around the auditorium. Letting audience wonder who is doing the sound system and if a child is messing with it. The sound system was a crucial thing that connects the audience to the actors. But it could only be said to have done a semi-good
No doubt that the content is the most important thing, so how can it be a good performance when the actors failed to deliver their only task? Which was to make the audience believe, believe in what they are saying is true. Many actors failed in delivering their feelings or the feelings of the character they were acting as for the matter. When scenes call for sadness or even a hint of tear, actors would give a sad-mocking expression like someone would in front of their mother to frame their brother whom did not do anything. Not the feeling of a lost of a friend that was known to everyone, that was seen by everyone, growing up or played with. And in addition although the impression of the southern accent was a good attempt, many actors did it and many did not, when they were native of the land. Instead of letting the audience feeling empathy and recognition actors gave the audience an agony of confusion, lost and at some point even bored throughout the