The Belfield Banter November 28, 2022
Issue III
The St. Anne’s-Belfield Student Newspaper
Picking A Chapel Tie
A Review of The Outsiders
by Anthony Cai
by Emma Finley-Gillis and Jack Dozier
— The leaves on the trees slowly turned red and yellow on the cold windy days. Summer is behind us, and the atmosphere of autumn has been here for some time.
— Familiar to many classrooms and bookshelves, The Outsiders is a classic YA story that is both an account of the coming-of-age experience and an emotional commentary on socioeconomic intolerance. The rivalry between the socs and the greasers is wellknown to those of us that read the novel by S.E. Hinton in middle or upper school, but even that familiarity didn’t provide a sense that this would be an easy play for Saints’ Stage to take on this fall. The cast, production team, set design, and runcrew worked together to dutifully portray the tone and nuance of Hinton’s story, on stage.
For me, this year’s autumn is different from years past. Like many of my fellow seniors, I was so busy with classes and college applications that I could barely pause to imagine the blooming osmanthus back home in China. I value balance in all aspects of my life; I try to take time to pursue what is new and enjoyable while also managing my stress. When I found myself so caught up in my to-do list, I began to look for ways to take on a more intentional and conscious mindset. The perfect opportunity came to me when Mr. Clark asked me to share my voice at this year’s Thanksgiving Chapel. The weeks I’ve spent revising my sermon and reflecting on what I am thankful for have affected me deeply. I have become considerate of each detail of my Chapel, down to my attire. As I put on the full look and stared at myself in the mirror, I found myself hung up on picking my tie.
Burke G. ‘25 took on a monumental role in this show, playing Ponyboy Curtis and bringing to life the world of greasers and socs through his countless asides to the audience. Burke and Spicer E. ‘24 (Johnny Cade) played an endearing duo, wherein the fraternal/ familial nature of their characters’ friendship was abundantly evident. Bella Grace C. ‘23 never fails to have great stage presence and, as Cherry Valance, she brought a clarity to her performance that made the lines poignant and insightful. She, too, played incredibly well off of Burke. Page 1