critique of the Laramie Project
...porters. I feel what is trying to be communicated is that no matter what your sexual preference is, there is no reason for hate. Hate crimes are more damaging to a persons character and their surroundings. It doesn’t affect just one person it affects everybody. You asked for 2 characters in the play, well I could give you several. First, there is Bradley Barrios as Sgt. Hing, he was a strong character and well versed in his hometown of Laramie. Proud man he was and couldn’t believe that this could happen in his town. Couldn’t blame him for feeling that way. And his portrayal as Jonas Slonaker was wonderfully done. Such emotions on how gay people react to death of one of their own. Then we have Clarence Wethern as Aaron Kreifels. Clarence will become a great actor one day. Aaron Kreifels fight with his faith was so powerful I feel he left the audience in tears. And in the end accepting that God didn’t want Matt do die alone was a powerful statement to me. Then of course, we have Jacob Zeringue as Andrew Gomez, Russell Henderson, and Aaron McKinney (as well as Doc O’Connor). Andrew Gomez’s statement of “why did you kill a faggot to become a faggot?” was real comical. But to watch this actor play out the two people accused of killing Matt, that was real touching. And of course, Doc O’Connor speaks well enough for himself. Last but not least, is Josh Tillotson. I found myself in his heart when he portrayed the character of Dennis Shepard. I could have run onstage and embraced that man myself. The real tears, the shaking of the lips, the begging for his son to be alive again and the emotion of telling Aaron McKinney “ I wish you life. Every day you wake I want you to thank Matthew.” Everyone around me was in tears. Yes, my heart went out to this man. I loved the set up of this play. I like how each person portrayed a variety of different people and how the costume change was done right there on stage. The set was kind of crowded I felt, sort of junky in a way. But I do feel it served its purpose. In the end, when they were leaving, I liked the backdrop of lights when they spoke of the lights of...