East Ridge's Sleepy Hollow A Definite Success

by Adam Pegram, Cypress Creek High School

A man engulfed by the threat of an eerie presence, a quivering, young schoolmaster of an unknown past, and a symbol of progress, Ichabod Crane merely stepped into a precarious situation at one of the worst possible times in East Ridge High School’s production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Ichabod Crane, the new schoolmaster, arrived in Sleepy Hollow in a rather unorthodox fashion, bringing with him some odd traditions that aroused the interests of the townspeople. Soon enough, his cordial nature impressed the ladies, including Katrina Van Tassel, the town’s most sought after female. The men of Sleepy Hollow were much less enthralled, in particular, Katrina’s admirer, Brom Bones, who immediately began plotting Ichabod’s defeat only moments after his arrival. Issues surged to a climax during the Van Tassel’s Halloween party, after which Ichabod is meets a terrifying apparition, the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. The next morning Ichabod vanished. His hat was the only evidence of his existence.

Although somewhat limited by shaky transitional phases, the quality of the production was quite admirable. The set and costumes were both indicative of the eighteenth century, and the thematic music aided the production’s suspenseful nature. The introduction by Narrator Zachary Hassan also served as a dramatic and somewhat humorous component of the production, setting the stage for future events.

Michael Crowley (Ichabod Crane), Garrett Jablonski (Brom Bones) and Tori Rapp (Katrina Van Tassel) each demonstrated consistency and professionalism in their roles, supplementing the storyline with versatile and dynamic lead characters. Michael Crowley’s emphasis on Ichabod’s tentative and naturally quiet nature greatly contributed to the suspense of many of scenes of the play. Garret Jablonski and Tori Rapp’s commitment to both comedic and dramatic sequences added a further dimension to the performance as well.

Garret Jablonski and Tori Rapp’s introductory “ankle scene” was a very entertaining and well-choreographed sequence. However, the most memorable moment of the night can be summed up into Zachary Hassan’s three-word phrase, “Oh that Ichy!” Overall, the entire cast’s fearlessness and enthusiasm served as possibly their greatest benefactors. The confidence and enthusiasm levels of the crew were impressively high for opening night.

The lighting and sound complemented the production well, accentuating the “Graveyard” scene by feeding upon the excitement from the prior instances. The malignant laughing also deepened the suspenseful inseams of the play, and served as a welcome addition.

Despite the pressures of opening night, East Ridge High School’s production of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was a definitive success!

Orignally published in The Backstage Noise, Fall, 2006