JACK vs. JILL theatre review

by DICK KEREKES
The 2nd annual Jr. Mainstage Production of Theatre Jacksonville was on stage in the Harold K. Smith Playhouse, the l9th and 20th of March 2011.
This endeavor was launched for the first time last year by its founder Juan Unzueta, the Educational Outreach Coordinator for the theatre. Last year a young person’s version of Romeo and Juliet was produced and also performed on the set for the mainstage production for Romeo and Juliet.
This year the mainstage performed the courtroom drama, Inherit the Wind, and Director Uzueta selected a short comedy by Dustin Robert Blakeman entitled Jack vs. Jill. It had a court room setting so the participating young actors were able to experience working on a very professional set, with all the lights and sound.
Jack of all trades Director Unzueta not only cast the show, directed it but he sold the tickets in the lobby, then went up to the light and sound booth and ran the lights and sound. Meanwhile Douglas Anderson freshman and theatre major EMILY POEHLMAN, handled the stage managing chores. Miles L. Para, a Flagler College student was the Assistant Director.
The play opened with AMANDA SEVERSON coming on stage, dressed Dick Tracy style (hat and trench coat) and announcing that none of what we would was true. She added that author borrowed freely from other sources. (Hey, if Shakespeare could do it, so could the playwright, Mr. Blakeman)
Jack (CONNOR DRISCOLL), was on trial for allegedly pushing Jill NICKI ERCOLINO) down the hill while they were on the way to fetch a pail of water. At least this is what the prosecution (ASHA PRINTUP), claimed happened and she was going to prove it.
Defending Jack, was a rather flamboyant defense lawyer DERRICK ROUTIER), who was seriously hampered in this due to the fact that Jack was not really in his right mind. If you remember the story, Jack fell down and broke his crown (head), and apparently suffered some serious injuries. As result he began eating his lawyer’s notes. He obviously had problems.
The bailiff (MICHAEL FISHER) swore in the witnesses with a very comic flair as they were called to testify. Frank Noodlemeyer (THOMAS DELEGAL) as a 911 dispatcher, testified to receiving the emergency call about the accident from Jill. Mother Goose (SIMONE ROUSSEAU) testified she wrote the book with the fairy tale in it, and a book was produced.
This proved to be what the defense needed to win the case for the book clearly showed that “Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after.” Further evidence revealed that Jill was not a very nice person and had pushed Jack herself so she could collect the insurance money. This was a crime Jill had previously committed when she pushed her first husband, Humpty-Dumpty off the wall for the same reason, to collect on the insurance.
It was a very colorful production with each actor creating the costume for their individual character. Jack & Jill will never be the same for me!
See you next year for another Jr. Mainstage Adventure.