Teacher shares views on ‘The Wrestling Season’
By: Kellie Houx, Assistant Editor
Winnetonka drama instructor Dr. Sheri Coffman challenges students.
In 2002, the school’s seniors performed “The Laramie Project, “the play taken from testimonials gathered after fellow university students beat gay university student Matthew Shepard and left him tied to a fence where he later died. Now, Coffman asks her students to tackle a drama that looks at rumors and high school.
“The Wrestling Season, “written by Laurie Brooks, targets eight high schoolers and rumors about them. “I fell in love with the script when I first read it last spring.
It is unique in that all actors wear wrestling singlets and all of the action takes place on the wrestling mat. A referee uses wrestling calls to propel the action forward and to pass judgment on the actions of the characters, “she said. “As the story unfolds, the actions of the characters are mirrored by wrestling moves.
“Coffman said the actors faced the challenge of memorizing lines, studying complex characterization, and learning to wrestle.
“The cast had wrestling practices too as well as play rehearsal, “she said. “I have appreciated the commitment of the actors so that all wrestling sequences could be performed accurately and safely.
“Coffman’s son, Daniel, a four-year varsity senior wrestler from Smithville High School, Stephen Steiner, a Winnetonka senior wrestler and Winnetonka wrestling coach Glen Rosario worked with the actors. “The whole team here at Winnetonka assisted as wrestling consultants, “she said.
Coffman said one of the biggest hurdles came when several students did not want to be part of the show because they would wear wrestling singlets. “Many refused to do the show because they were not comfortable, “she said. “I had originally selected the show as a Senior Exhibition Show due to the mature subject matter and the complexity of the acting required. However, so many of the Theatre IV class members were reluctant to wear the singlets, that I ended up opening up auditions to all theater students. We now have a senior cast and a separate junior cast.”
Coffman said the eight main characters carry a burden to do the story justice.
“When Matt and Luke and other wrestlers are vying for their wrestling slots, the guys competing start rumors that the two are gay, “she said. “As the story unfolds, the audience sees how malicious rumors can destroy lives and reputations and lead to violence. As the rumors increase, Matt is driven to begin dating Melanie to prove to the world he is not gay.”
Coffman said the “talk back “session will be powerful.
“The audience will place the actors on a spectrum based on which character’s actions were the most to least objectionable. The actors will then defend their actions to the audience based on their placement in the spectrum, “she said. “The audience will have the opportunity to process their own opinions about the issues addressed in the show.”
Coffman said many people asked her why she decided on this show.
“As the mother of a high school wrestler, I have attended a lot of wrestling meets over the past four years. I was intrigued by a play that would give the world a glimpse of what an exacting sport wrestling can be as wrestlers struggle to meet weight and have to face wrestle-offs to defend their wrestling slots, “she said. “This show gave a very honest depiction of the commitment required of wrestlers.
“But the most significant reason was because it so accurately mirrored the events I watched a student live through in my department just last year. Many times, theater students are labeled as being gay and find themselves having to prove to their high school world that they are not gay. I have often wondered how does one prove you are not gay once you have been labeled as such. “
,©Sun-News of the Northland 2005
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