“Breathtaking.” “Completely Captivating.” “Jaw Dropping.” “Brilliantly Mesmerizing.” Indian Creek’s Lost in Yonkers Receives Rave Reviews

The cast and crew Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers” did Indian Creek proud last weekend, as they performed what has been lauded as one of the finest high school plays the Baltimore area has seen in years. But don’t take our word for it. The Cappies of Baltimore, a consortium of theater students and teachers representing 21 schools from the Baltimore area sent 27 critics to Sunday’s LIY performance. Here’s what they had to say:

“Indian Creek's performance was rollercoaster of emotions. From intense, heart-wrenching monologues, to quick-witted one-liners, the audience was constantly engaged. Lost in Yonkers was a truly beautiful and emotional show, and was the ice cream sundae to top off the weekend.” - Grace McWaters, South River High School

“The show overall was anchored by how comfortable the cast seemed to be with one another. They truly acted like family members who had known each other their entire lives, which added to the feeling of reality in the show.” - Diana Tobin, Annapolis High School

“Justine Krizan’s monologues as Bella in Act Two completely captivated the audience and made everyone either drop their jaw or cry.” - Diana Tobin, Annapolis High School

“Although first seen as a kooky old aunt with wild expressions, downcast head, and timid posture, Justine Krizan’s transformation as Bella into a steel-backed woman determined to break free from her mother's loveless confines was breathtaking.” - Lexi Danielson, Annapolis High School

“With hilarious comedic delivery and slapstick comedy, Jamie Woodward's Arty traversed about stage with childlike wonder, with naive honesty providing a light-hearted air to the heavy-hearted subjects pictured on stage.” - Lexi Danielson, Annapolis High School

“Shannon Sullivan's dedication to her character Gert had the audience in stitches.” - Lexi Danielson, Annapolis High School
 
“Ava Rouse, Simone Brown, and Alex Walls's makeup transcended years, creating characters of all ages and beliefs. They captured intense detail and individual quirks, from Grandma Kurnitz's harsh wrinkles to Eddie's gray hair caused by stress.” - Lexi Danielson, Annapolis High School
 
“[Jamie] Woodward played the nervous, yet humorous Arty effortlessly, never failing to spark laughter from the audience with each witty retort and stubborn display.” - Megan Barnes, Annapolis High School

“It was apparent that Annabelle Derrick did her research, as every costume transported the audience to the 1940's. Each piece correlated with the personality of the character wearing it, whether it was Bella's polka-dotted dress, Louie's dapper suit, or Grandma Kurnitz's flowered nightgown. Likewise, Elizabeth Foster acquired props that ensured the accuracy of the time-period, all of which added to the dimension of each scene.” - Megan Barnes, Annapolis High School
 
“Will Morrissey characterized Jay with the perfect mix of comedy and naivety. Morrissey combined his exceptional comedic ability with his skill for making the audience gasp. His devotion to character and unique idiosyncrasies contributed greatly to the show, as every foot-tap, hand-gesture, and whisper created an unparalleled dedication.” - Katie Fitzpatrick , Annapolis High School

“Grace Walworth as Grandma Kurnitz gives an extraordinary performance as an aging woman coping with the loss of two children, loneliness, and her traumatic past in Germany. Kurnitz is a hard role to master, and Walworth nailed everything about her, including the thick German accent and the frail yet stable physicality.” - Walker Dixon, Annapolis High School

“To show the different places, images of postcards, created by Cameron Brown, were projected onto one of the side walls of the theatre. These postcards changed for every location and showed the city itself as well as cultural elements from each city. Annabelle Derrick's costume design incorporated many items from the 1940's, including different suits, dresses, and shoes that fit the era.” - Walker Dixon, Annapolis High School
 
“The use of floor mics by Collin Brown and Olivia Boucher was phenomenal. Usually floor mics pic up either too much or too little but they placed the mics perfectly around the stage and set the gain high to reduce footsteps while also catching all lines.” - Hadlee Walker, Broadneck High School
 
“Justine Krizan (Bella) was truly the breakout star from this production. While the entire cast should be praised for their excellent physical acting, Krizan's ability to transform from a haunched figure in one moment to threatening people with a towel in the next was such an extreme juxtaposition, it was impossible not to be memorable.” - Lenora Brown, Glen Burnie High School

“Parker Harris (Louie) was a comedic delight every time he was on stage. The character's tough guy attitude was refreshing to see in a play dominated by anxious characters. Although her part was small, Shannon Sullivan (Gert) did a fantastic job portraying the character's unfortunate wheezing, bringing levity to several heavier scenes.” - Lenora Brown, Glen Burnie High School

“This show, being set in one room, required expert timing and precision in blackouts and spotlights. The crew team (The Minions) provided just that. In every scene change, the blackouts were timed perfectly. The stage crew always had exactly enough time to reorganize the room and prepare it for the next scene, making sure to never leave the audience just sitting in the dark.” - Collin Branam, Loyola Blakefield

“With a vivid portrayal of a broken family fractured by hatred endemic to WWII America, Indian Creek High School's production of "Lost in Yonkers" stuns and hangs within each audience member's mind. Each cast member delivers their lines with emotion, sincerity, and a degree of believability that scares audience members. The final scenes of the drama strike the most emotional, jarring, evocative, and memorable images in one's head. It forces one to reflect upon themselves and upon the themes of the piece that could not be more relevant today. - Edward Spencer Smith, Loyola Blakefield

“I doubt many actors could tactfully display the desperation of a father now bereft of one of the purest forms of love, but Sean Lonergan pulls it off somehow.” - Kenneth Cooper, Loyola Blakefield

Emma Kornmeyer, the Overlord herself, alongside the minions should be commended for achieving such polish while working the lights with the lighting team in conjunction with so many other tasks. All those ingredients came together to make a dish far superior to Grandma's mustard soup.” - Kenneth Cooper, Loyola Blakefield

“Sean Lonergan was an incredibly believable and surprisingly nuanced exasperated dad.” - Will LaMoure, Loyola Blakefield

“All in all, this show was well-executed, entertaining, and believably acted. The students of Indian Creek clearly put their all into this production, and it shows. Well done.” - Will LaMoure, Loyola Blakefield

“The striking Parker Harris effortlessly played the bad-boy gangster Louie bringing another dynamic to the family. Harris held a laid back and un-flustered attitude breaking the tension of the production and really showing that he had moxy.” - Abby Drake, South River High School

“The actors and crew of Indian Creek brought drama and emotion that made the almost three hour show fly by. The actors held challenging New York and German accents brilliantly mezmerizing the audience. Indian Creek definitely proved they have moxy in their production of Lost In Yonkers. The cast and crew truly deserves all the love they received following the show.” - Abby Drake, South River High School

“Indian Creek's rendition of "Lost in Yonkers" brings audiences close to tears from both laughter and empathy. Overall, the show highlights a cast dedicated to their roles who pushed themselves beyond their comfort zones. Jay (Will Morrissey) and Arty (Jamie Woodward) immediately stole the audiences' hearts. Morrissey’s stage presence was impeccable and his facial expressions drew attention towards him, even if he was not the center of the scene. Woodward, as Arty, amazingly captures the essence of a young child. Though his character was often the voice of comedic relief, Woodward was also able to showcase anger and grief.” - Brigid Sax, South River High School
 
Justine Krizan (Bella) and Grace Walworth (Grandma Kurnitz) dropped jaws with their undeniable chemistry as a suffering mother and daughter. Grandma Kurnitz was brought to life by Grace Walworth who was able to impressively depict an emotionally damaged woman. She brilliantly changes her mood through her words in specific scenes, but primarily in her facial gestures at the end of scenes.” - Brigid Sax, South River High School

“With emotional acting and props that take you back to the 40's, Indian Creek's production of "Lost in Yonkers" is one show for the books! The emotion portrayed by Justine Krizan as Bella left the audience with chills. Aunt Bella was truly a standout role and performance. Another notable performance was Will Morrissey as Jay.” - Cheyenne Lustig, South River High School
 
“The lighting by Emma Kornmeyer, Chase Flemming-Williams, Adam Bizri, and Miriam Bizri created a color palette that added depth to the time of day.” - Kelsie Bridgewater, South River High School

“Uncle Louie, played by Parker Harris, stole several scenes with his amazing performance. He added so much emotion and depth into minor character, making him stand out." - Maureen Zajic, South River High School

"Lost in Yonkers would not have been able to achieve the emotional connection it created with the audience without the acting of the character Bella. Playing with the childlike innocence of Bella, along with the many hardships she faced, Krizan made a tear-jerking performance as she poured her heart and soul out on stage." - Maureen Zajic, South River High School
 
"Grace Walworth truly made the audience hate her and not many people are willing to do that. Most people want to be loved by the audience but what's more impressive is making the audience hate and love them at the same time." - Maureen Zajic, South River High School

Lighting, done by Emma Kornmeyer, Chase Fleming-Williams, and team, was astonishing. Timing when a character would flip a light switch, that clearly should not be actually wired to the lighting of the set, was impeccable.” - Maureen Zajic, South River High School

“Justine Krizan as Bella blew the minds of the audience. Her dedication towards her character was stunning.” - Rachel Langweil, South River High School

A full, downloadable gallery of "Lost in Yonkers" photos can be viewed after login to the ICS website under News > Featured Content > Media > Lost in Yonkers
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Indian Creek school is a co-educational, college preparatory independent school, located in Crownsville, Maryland.  Students in Pre-K3 through grade 12 receive a vibrant educational experience based on excellent academics steeped in strong student-teacher connections.