On Feb. 7th and 8th, LHS Stageplayers took to the auditorium to perform Bertolt Brecht’s “The Caucasian Chalk Circle” as the 2025 winter play.
Set in the 13th century, this play tells the story of the noble Abashwili family, who has to flee the city when war breaks out. As the war grows more dangerous, Arsen Kazbeki, portrayed by Luc Domingo-Synder — known as the Fat Prince — staged a coup, overthrowing the reviled Grand Duke and all his Governors. When Georgi, portrayed by junior Nick Taylor, is taken prisoner and then killed, Natella, played by junior Eva Thomas, is hurried away to safety.
While that happens, Grusha Vashnadze, played by junior Ava Botten, is seen bringing a goose to the noble family; on her way, she meets Simon Shashava, who is played by senior River Thompson.
To escape due to the war, Natella tries to pack her dresses while shouting at her servants, who struggle to do it for her. Amid this chaos, she leaves her son Michael behind.
Grusha meets Simon once more, and they get engaged. Instead of fleeing, Grusha goes back for the child. After contemplating for hours, she decides to take and raise him as her own.
The servant and child flee, and on their adventure to encounter Grusha’s brother Lavrenti, Kanoa Farias, they are questioned by Kazbeki’s soldiers (the Ironshirts). They manage to escape, and they make it safely to Lavrenti’s home.
Once they settle in, the brother finds Grusha a husband so she can be protected from unholy rumors about the child.
Lavrenti finds an extremely ill peasant’s husband. He and the peasant’s mother make a deal for Grusha to marry him. The wedding goes smoothly—until the peasant wakes up as if he had never been ill.
After a two-year time jump, the audience sees Michael, played by fifth-grader Mason Lockwood, grown up and playing with his friends. At the same time, Simon comes back and sees Grusha. Simon discovers that Grusha is married and hurries off, feeling betrayed.
Unfortunately, the Ironshirts come back as well, discovering Micheal and taking him away to the capital for a trial to discover who his real mother is.
At the trial, Azdak, played by senior Rosie Wagner, the judge and his assistant Shauwa, portrayed by junior Mary Weatherly, are introduced. Along with the new characters, the audience witnesses Simon standing by Grusha to help her keep Michael.
To decide who the mother is, Azdak makes up a test where the child will be placed in the center of a chalk circle and whoever pulls Micheal out is the real mother. In an unexpected turn of events, he decides Grusha is the child’s real mother.
The stageplayers will be seen on the auditorium stage this spring to perform the comedic spring play, Noises Off!
