Chilling nights haunt the Moors, ghosts float around a darkened manor, and a man named Heathcliff takes his revenge on the Earnshaw family to steal back his love: Catherine Earnshaw. Five months ago, Tuscarora Performing Arts announced their fall production of Wuthering Heights, an original adaptation of the Emily Brontë novel written by Alyssa Sera Josep. Immediately, student leaders jumped into the production process and began researching and designing. After countless hours of dedication, Tuscarora Performing Arts’s production of Wuthering Heights opens this Friday, Nov. 15 at 7:00 p.m.
One primary character in Wuthering Heights is Catherine Earnshaw, a strong-willed yet tender-hearted woman, portrayed by Maggie Larson. In addition to a haunting performance from Larson, Catherine Earnshaw is also portrayed by the shrill yet melodic sounds of the flute. Wuthering Heights includes an original score by Sydney Nicklas and Luke Pierce that was written so each character could be represented by a different instrument during the story-telling. Lane Bassett, who represents Catherine Earnshaw when playing the flute and Frances Earnshaw when playing the piccolo, shares her experience with the pit and how they transform the production. “I am very proud to be chosen to play the new score. So far, my favorite part of the rehearsal process has been when we finally get a tricky part right or when all the parts come together and I can hear the vision,” Bassett exclaims.
Neighboring the Wuthering Heights Manor is Thrushcross Grange, home of Edgar and Isabella Linton, a posh and regal pair of siblings. Edgar Linton, portrayed by Dylan Bostian, is a pompous man who is set on maintaining his authority and uphold his family name.
“My favorite part of playing Edgar Linton was how new it was to me. I’ve almost never played any characters as snobby and dark before,” Bostian expresses. Every character in this show expresses a wide variety of emotions that allows them to come to life. Every actor in the cast had a wide variety of challenges, whether it be learning to sob after their lover died or recreating the sounds of labor. Bostian states what challenged him the most was “how much anger, rage, and sadness he shows all at once in the show.”
Every character delivers moments of grief, happiness, love, and more, whether it be Catherine Heathcliff or Hindley Earnshaw. “I want the audience to understand the feelings that these characters are put through the show. Whether it’s their rage, love, passion, or vengeance… the audience should look at these characters like people in the show,” Bostian states. Wuthering Heights is a show filled with domestic abuse, family grief, and never-ending revenge. Despite its dark message, it is filled with many beautiful moments of love and finding peace. On Nov. 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd at 7:00 p.m., you can watch Tuscarora High School’s debut production of Wuthering Heights for $11.50 and engulf yourself in a century-old gothic love story.
