The Magic Pumpkin Patch - Low-Grade Acting from a Low-Grade Class By Jason Cross

Until I had seen Greenville Elementary School's production of "The Magic Pumpkin Patch", I sincerely believed in talent among the thespians of the fourth grade. The play, originally written by William ("Billy") Jacobs, is the sordid and moving tale of a young group of friends whose existentialist plight is consummated when they stumble upon the answer to all of their problems in a simple place - the pumpkin patch. Original performances of "The Magic Pumpkin Patch" managed to portray the sense of stoic despair and nihilistic emptiness experienced by each of its main characters, Tommy, Jane, and Princess Flower.

Unfortunately, the Greenville Elementary Fourth Grade class is not at all familiar with such classics as "Magic Princess Land" and "The Happy Fairies Learn Subtraction", both of which have recently been nominated for this year's "Best of Educational Theatre" award. These works of pure fine art are solid interpretations of their authors' intentions: to quiet the inherently questioning soul that defines humanity and to express the universal desire for the truth. Why are we here? No one can say. But "The Magic Pumpkin Patch"'s original format was the closest any playwright ever came to solving the ever-present mystery of our existence.

The play begins in a pumpkin patch where Tommy, the main character of the story, somberly strolls in from stage right, lamenting his tragic burden of homework. The actor portraying Tommy, Tommy Davidson, is apparently devoid of any training or experience as an actor, as he gives a dry, emotionless performance. "Gee, what is this over here?" is the first line uttered, and it is delivered with vicious monotony and pedestrianism. Tommy's performance throughout the play is not unlike that of Belvedere in Jacques Marceaux's "The Final Hour", a desperate and longing character seeking only a simple truth and the answer to the ultimate question: WHY?

Enter Jane, the female companion to Tommy, whose bright attitude and sunny demeanor are soon crushed by Tommy's shocking discovery in The Pumpkin Patch. Jane Meyer, the actress who unprofessionally portrays Jane, delivers a disheartened, unfinished performance, improperly emphasizing the hatred and agony bottled up inside of the heroine's soul. "What is that you have found there in the pumpkin patch, Tommy?" The line is uttered without the slightest hint of sadness or envy. The plot thickens.

Finally, Princess Flower, the center of the performance's plot line, appears from overhead, lowered on a shoddily-built flying apparatus. "Hello, I am Princess Flower. You have found a magic pumpkin!" Princess Flower's presence is stunning, the work of a true genius. Each line is presented with real feeling, depth, and honesty: Princess Flower's plight is made clear as she ascends back into the heavens, wailing: "Goodbye, have fun with your magic pumpkin.".

I will not ruin the rest of the play, as I recommend that each and every respectable person experience this performance, if only for the powerful acting provided by Princess Flower.

The Pumpkin Patch gets 4 out of 5 stars.