Nina Ruiz
\nIn Motion Staff Writer
\n In a story of self-discovery and resilience, the play \u201cViolet\u201d directed by theater professor and Daytona State College director Samantha Stern, invites the audience to question their own perceptions of outer-beauty and its importance in society.
\n Exceptionally capturing the turbulent and discriminatory attitudes of the 1960s at the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, Stern guides her cast to illustrate the valuable lessons of facing the past to fix the present and how finding self-worth plays a key role in growing up. The two main actors chosen for the play, Rachel Larchar as Violet and Kerry Alce as Flick, did a fantastic job portraying their characters\u2019 intensity. From being judged and jeered at for a scar on her face, to being discriminated against for his skin color, characters Violet and Flick represent the timeless battle of Man vs. Society.
\n The beginning of \u201cViolet\u201d immediately captures the audience\u2019s attention, with the introduction of Violet and her quest to seek a televangelist to cure her scar to make her \u201cbeautiful\u201d and similar to the women she sees in magazines, an idea that is repeated and emphasized throughout the play.
\n The song, \u201cAll to Pieces,\u201d depicts just how much society encourages the importance of physical appearance, as well as the dire need for others\u2019 attention and how this attention makes a person feel validated. \u201cI could be someone lovely, turning heads on her first night in town. All I need is someone to wonder, who is she? To ask how to meet me, to love me all to pieces.\u201d
\n Violet\u2019s growing need to feel she is only worth something if she is beautiful, is an attitude most women can understand and relate to at any point in history.
\n Larchar, the actress portraying Violet, reminds us, \u201cYoung female college students need to know that we are worth more than our physical attributes. Learning to love ourselves is so hard sometimes, but if we are confident in who we are, then it\u2019s easier to get past our insecurities and doubts.\u201d
\n Every scene is introduced by new musical numbers and even further supported with reprises to maintain the theme of the story. The periodical transitions between Young Violet and Present Violet, though confusing at first, connected the character\u2019s background and helped thicken the plot of Violet\u2019s true quest: coming to terms with her past. The central theme of self-acceptance and self-love is also revealed through these transitions.
\n Alce, the actor portraying Flick, says, \u201cIt\u2019s always awesome to have people emotionally grasped by the show afterwards, though I want the audience walking out the door with a new awareness about self-worth and really taking that seriously.\u201d
\n The cast\u2019s performance of \u201cViolet\u201d brought the audience to its feet applauding such as emotional and enthusiastic delivery. Additional outstanding actors in the play include Benjamin Youmans (Monty) Amy Hadley (Gospel Soloist\/Landlady) Josh We Know (Preacher\/Bus Driver) and Brittney Whittenton (Hotel Hooker\/Old Lady #2).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nina Ruiz In Motion Staff Writer In a story of self-discovery and resilience, the play \u201cViolet\u201d directed by theater professor and Daytona State College director Samantha Stern, invites the audience to question their own perceptions of outer-beauty and its importance in society. Exceptionally capturing the turbulent and discriminatory attitudes of Continue reading ‘Violet\u2019 looks at many faces of beauty<\/span>