Some plays really do stand the test of time, like Everyman, a work first published during the Middle Ages in 1495.  Though the Medieval language is challenging, Jane Hiett ’01, drama teacher and director, decided to undertake the production for Regina’s annual winter play.

The allegory speaks heavily upon Catholic doctrine, as the story follows the protagonist, Everyman, through his journey after Death tells him that he will soon die.  Along the way, Everyman learns the value of life through encounters with Good Deeds, Strength, Beauty, Intelligence, and Knowledge.

The play illustrates the truth that every man will eventually die.  It teaches how one should live in order to be fulfilled and attain salvation.

In order to better exemplify these personifications for the audience, Hiett decided to make Everyman a Regina student.

“I’m trying to bring it to a level we can understand it at: modernizing it, bringing it up, and putting it into a context that we can connect to,” said Hiett.

The cast did this by rewriting their parts of the script into modern English to study their roles.  Most of the Medieval language will be kept in the adaption along with the modern English, maintaining the original essence of the play.

“I like the old English style of writing, but it is definitely confusing to understand. In my opinion, the old English makes the play so much better because you have to really pay attention in order to understand what’s going on,” said Ivana Marogi ’16.

Everyman is played by three actors through the stages of her life including Marogi, Emily Bochenek ’16 and Deanna Stone ’16.

“Each one of us brings something different to the table and it is interesting to see how we all approach the role in different ways,” said Bochenek.

While deciding how to incorporate the concept of death into the life of a Regina student, Hiett recalled a former classmate from Regina.

Carolyn Shepard ’03 was diagnosed with leukemia her sophomore year of high school.  She passed away the July after her graduation.

“Throughout the whole thing, she was very upbeat.  She was always very selfless and her spirits stayed high,” said Hiett.

An alumna who was close friends with Shepard came to speak to the cast about her.  Hiett also contacted Shepard’s family about the play and using Shepard as an inspiration.

“Listening to her friend gave us good insight and motivation to perform our best, said Maria Brito ’16, who plays Knowledge.

“I can only hope that dedicating the show to her will help her memory live on to show what an impact she has made on the Regina Dominican community,” said Bochenek.

Everyman will be the final production by the drama department for this year. Usually, the final production was a children’s play. This year, the children’s play was removed due to lack of attendance in previous years by grade schools.

“We want to concentrate our efforts, time and energy into one performance, and make it really good in order to build up the [theater] program itself as well as the reputation of the program,” said Hiett.

Although this is her first time directing at Regina, Hiett assisted Dave Hiett, music teacher, in various musicals over past years.

“It’s been a lot of learning for both me and the students,” said Hiett.