Can you keep a secret? A new school year has come around and the Wilson Theater Company has been hard at work on their newest production, “Trap”. “Trap” is set in a high school auditorium, where everybody has fallen unconscious. The play follows the ensuing investigation of this strange occurrence, with a documentary style.
One major takeaway I have was the pacing of the play. It is very quick with a runtime of about an hour and ten minutes. This made it very easy to stay engaged with the action throughout. This is likely because the script is very well written, with very little wasted action or dialogue. Also, the performance had no intermission; which sometimes I feel can disrupt the flow of a play for me.
The characters are memorable and very well acted by the talented actors of the theater company. I was very well immersed in the plot throughout. I was never taken out of the experience, which sometimes with stage productions can happen. It’s clear to me that the actors took their preparation very seriously. Given the short time they had to prepare, I was very impressed.
Initially, I found the premise of the play to be ridiculous. How could you fully immerse a crowd when there is so much interaction with them? I was very wrong. The play was thrilling and intense. I am usually not the one to be scared easily, but the show managed to leave me unnerved. Usually with theater productions, there is a lack of real horror that can be conveyed. But due to the immersion created, it really worked for me.
Of course, I can’t forget to mention that none of this would be possible without the talented Mrs. Lennon. I think it was strikingly bold to choose such an unorthodox play, especially to start the year. She never fails to bring some variety to the shows she selects each year.
This play left me in a state of anticipation for what is to come. There is an especially talented group this year in the Wilson Theater Company. I see many new faces from the freshman and sophomore classes who will surely continue the record of excellence that this group has established. The seniors of the company were also great as we have come to expect throughout their high school careers.
Overall, this play combined elements from more typical productions, with intense, thrilling, immersive twists. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The acting performances were great and very convincing. I would highly recommend that you see the upcoming shows. We still have an action-packed year, with “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”, “The Little Mermaid”, and “One-Acts” all coming up. It’s certainly no secret that this year will be a special one for the Wilson Theater Company.
