Chad Lundquist/Nevada Appeal Richard Brown and Lee Loe battle it out in a sword fight during rehearsals Tuesday for "Pericles, Prince of Tyre," which opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Bob Boldrick Theatre at the Carson Community Center.
Most of his classes at Carson High School require Richard Brown to solve problems, learn about the past and read the classics.
But this year, he also got to sword fight, dance and kiss - for credit.
"I've been in this program for four years, and I had the chance for a starring role, so I took it," said Brown, a Carson High senior.
Brown plays the title role in "Pericles, Prince of Tyre" which opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Bob Boldrick Theatre at the Carson Community Center. The play is a lesser-known work of William Shakespeare.
CHS drama teacher Karen Chandler said the play works well for the advanced drama class because it has an abundance of good roles.
"This especially has a lot of good roles for women, which you don't see in many of Shakespeare's plays," Chandler said.
The play revolves around the title character who must overcome several obstacles, including attempts on his life, to accomplish his goal.
"It has a happy ending, but before that there are pirates, shipwrecks, bad guys and incest, and Pericles must overcome all these trials before he gets rewarded for being a good man," Chandler said.
Because the play is done as theater-in-the-round with a minimal set, it makes it more physically demanding on the actors, especially Brown.
"We had to do a lot of physical training for this show. With the sword-fighting and the other aspects of this show, we needed to do that to prepare," Chandler said. "There is one act where he isn't on stage and he actually gets to rest for a bit, but other than that Richard is out there for the entire play."
Chandler said one of the most interesting parts of the play is the importance the female roles, especially Diana, the goddess of the moon, who comes to Pericles' aid.
The play is narrated by eight women, who serve as the eight phases of the moon as it runs through its cycle and help maintain the continuity of the story.
While Brown said he had a lot of work to prepare for this play, it's worth it when he gets to perform.
"If you listen to the dialog and understand it, it becomes a partnership between the audience and the play itself," he said.
• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.
If You Go
What: Carson Performing Arts presents "Pericles, Prince of Tyre" by William Shakespeare
When: 7:30 p.m. tonight and Feb. 16-17 with a 2 p.m. performance Saturday, Sunday and Feb. 18
Where: Bob Boldrick Theatre in the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.
Cost: $6 for students with a student body card and children under 12; $7 for other students and seniors and $8 for general admission
Call: Call 887-0438 for information
Cast list for 'Pericles, Prince of Tyre'
Antiochus: Justin Keller
Bawd: Alicia Freeman
Boult: Ben Guberman
Cerimon: Meaghan Morawski
Cleon: Dave McComb
Daughter of Antiochus: Amanda Howard
Dionyza: Jordan Miller
Fishermen: Jenny Nuebel, Justin Kaylor, Jenn Bowers
Gentlemen: Jeremiah James, Justin Keller
Helicanus: Ryan Wong
Ladies: Megan Withey, Maryanne Baker
Leonine: Lee Loe
Knights: Ryan Wong, Lee Loe, Justin Keller, Ben Guberman, Dave McComb
Lychorida: Rebekah Crounk
Lysimachus: Phillip Wortman
Marina: Elysa Guiterrez
Messengers: Jenn Bowers, Megan Withey
Pandar: Cameron Shirey
Pericles: Richard Brown
Philemon: Kaitlynn Cooper ( Friday and Feb. 10-11) and Jenn Bowers (Feb. 16-18)
Pirates: Lee Loe, Jeremiah James, Phillip Wortman
Simonides: Jeremiah James
Thaisa: Hollie Eiswert
Thaliard: Dave McComb
Tyrian Sailor: Lee Loe
Moons
New Moon: Caitie Berger
Waxing Crescent Moon: Brittany Cook
First Quarter Moon: Krystle Gordon
Waxing Gibbous Moon: Kristen Sandifer
Full Moon: Rebecca Jolly
Waning Gibbous Moon: Sarah Ferguson
Last Quarter Moon: Kristen Charles
Waning Crescent Moon: Elizabeth Peebles
Lights: Kenni Kinsey
Sound: Dakota Dutcher