Word: rossman
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...FINAL SCENE of Spring Awakening, Melchior (Jeff Rossman) crouches in an area of the stage placed amid the audience. He faces a "graveyard" of actors, each sitting in front of a television set, eyes riveted on the screen. He listens to the ghost of his dead friend. Moritz (Christopher Moore) attempt to lure him center-stage, into the graveyard. Moritz, heavily made up, gesturing dramatically and Melchior appearing plain and vulnerable under a dim natural light, create a startling contrast. As Moritz describes the wonders of death, the escape from pain, suffering and memory; Melchior listens silently, confused and afraid...
...innocence and bewilderment of Wendla is played out strongly by Jennifer Burton. She effectively rouses sympathy for Melchior and the adults' abuse through her almost pathetic naivete. Rossman strongly evokes the intellectual maturity and instinctive sexuality which characterize Melchior. Forced to witnes the suffering of his friends, condemned by his parents, he experiences painful feelings of guilt and self-hatred. Rossman makes Melchior one of the most human characters of the play giving genuine expression to the frustration, anguish and loneliness of his character. Also notable is Paul Martignetti (Hans Rilow), who performs one of the most difficult episodes...
...Jeff Rossman plays the victim Anderson well, and does not reveal his deeper motives, which contributes to the play's most unexpected plot reversals...
...important part in the play since there are five murders in the two acts. The two which need to look the most authentic are chilling. When the envious Bruhl garrotes Anderson, the murder--which did in the chair--is agonizingly long. The strangling is exhausting for both involved and Rossman's face turns hideously red in his futile struggle. By prolonging their theatrical duel and a later bludgeoning, director Beth Schachter reminds the audience that death really isn't that funny and murder is downright terrifying to witness or commit...