Monday, November 5th, the Franklin County High School drama department offered a unique opportunity to see an outdoor performance of Aurand Harris’ “Androcles and the Lion”.
Monday, November 5th, the Franklin County High School drama department offered a unique opportunity to see an outdoor performance of Aurand Harris’ “Androcles and the Lion”. Under the direction of Emily Tucker, more than fifty drama students presented six performances of “Androcles and the Lion” and other works of Commedia dell’Arte from November 2nd through November 5th to benefit the Saint James Community Center and to help fund the FCHS drama department’s spring musical. Donations of non-perishable food items were accepted for the St. James Community Center and monetary donations were accepted to help fund the spring musical. The first five performances were held at venues that included the Rocky Mount Farmer’s Market, the Franklin County Recreation Park, and the Franklin County High School Auditorium.
The sixth performance was held on cool night under a blanket of stars at the parking lot of the old Winn Dixie building in Rocky Mount. In the process of planning the benefit performances, an idea of holding a “drive in” style performance was presented and plans for the performance quickly took shape. Tucker said that once the drama department has an idea they feel strongly about they don’t let it go! Audience members’ vehicles formed a semi-circle around the “stage” and lit the performance area with their headlights. The audiences’ seating choices varied from sitting inside their cars, to sitting on top of their cars... and many even found front row seats on the ground!
“Androcles and the Lion” and the other improvisational sketches performed are a form of drama called “Commedia dell’Arte” that was popular during the Italian Renaissance from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century. This type of drama was frequently performed in the market place for donations of money or food. When you consider the location and the reason for the performance, it seems that the FCHS drama department planned the perfect presentation for their final performance of “Androcles and the Lion”!
See the photos at:
Set 1 -
Set 2 
