March 1, 1997
If you didn't see UCF's recent play, Children of a Lesser God, you missed a
chance to see the truth in human nature.
This beautiful rendition of Mark Medoff's award winning play is alive,
exciting, exuberant, somber, and hopeful. The set, designed by John
Nevulis, wasn't particularly imaginative, but the lighting is carried out
beautifully by Christopher Runnells.
Kate Ollinger portrayed Sarah beautifully, although I think the director made
her look too much like the movie version of Sarah (Marlee Matlin). Also Ellie
Dvorkin creates an incredibly poignant Mrs. Norman, the mother of Sarah. Todd
Lawhorne, playing the lead character James Leeds, seemed too Neil Simonesque
(you know - that tone and use of inflection that is all too common in modern
versions of any Neil Simon play) until the other characters showed up, but once
they did, watch out! The show became a roller coaster of emotion - not the
kind that makes you sick, but the kind that, after the ride has ended, makes
you feel like you've conquered something.
What you end up conquering is ignorance, and you gain the realization that minority
rights aren't "special rights", they are basic human rights that society has
denied to a certain group of people (in this case the hearing or speech
impaired). Children of a Lesser God Brings this message home.
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