It’s poignant, passionate, intelligent, deeply stirring and presented by your very own “Class Act” drama class.  May 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15th at CalvaryBaptistChurchin Turlock, will offer you the heartwarming story of Charlie Gordon.  Born with an unusually low IQ, Charlie Gordon has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that researchers hope will increase his intelligence; a procedure that has already been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon.  As the treatment takes effect, Charlie’s intelligence expands, but his emotional development has a hard time keeping up with his mental advancement. 

 All is going accordingly until Algernon’s intelligence begins to deteriorate.  Will the same thing happen to Charlie?  Was the procedure ever “right” to do in the first place?  Mrs. Davis had this to say about the challenge of presenting a production with the main character having a learning handicap: “This play is quite a departure from what we have done in the past, and the students are embracing the change.  Charlie Gordon is played brilliantly by Reggie Wright.  You will be sold on, and endured to his character from is first line.”  Lindy Davis who plays opposite of Reggie as the night school teacher and helps Charlie during his advancement, says, “I want the audience to be completely enthralled in the story that you become touched with a new sensitivity to the value of life.  This is one of the harder plays we’ve put together, but our class has enough talent to make this a play to top the others.”

This is not your typical high school play, it’s very powerful.  My favorite part of the play is watching Reggie’s character and the work he’s put into it; he will touch your heart and you forget that it’s just Reggie.  I would describe the play as thought-provoking and touching.  Reggie Wright, who plays the lead character of Charlie Gordon, had this to say about the play: “I want the audience to walk away with 2 ½  hours of entertainment that allows them to escape from the real world for a while and come back feeling inspired in one way or another.  For me personally this play is the largest and most challenging role I’ve had the privilege to take on.  The emotion is huge but we have a tremendously talented and dedicated cast that makes it easy to be comfortable. People should come to the play because it’s a moving piece with high quality acting, and I believe that Turlock Christian Drama’s are the best place to go for productions.  This production is incredibly directed and worth coming to.  My favorite scene is a party scene with a lot of yelling and very intense. I would describe the play as, powerful, touching, dark and thought provoking!”