Period plays are the pinnacle of a costume designer's art. Up until the turn of the 20th century, sewing everyday clothes was a revered craft, and rarely did a seamstress ever use the same pattern exactly the same way. But what does this have to do with modern theater? In Fairfax High School's upcoming production of "Romeo and Juliet," costume designer Maureen Pereira has enlisted more than a dozen seamstresses in order to create 40 costumes. Thanks to generous grants from the Fairfax High School Theatre Boosters and The Window Look, audiences will have the opportunity to see authentic Elizabethan designs in silk, velvet, brocade, and other materials high school students rarely have the opportunity to utilize.
Says Pereira, "Many schools don't even allow their students to design the production's costumes, much less construct them. At FHS, not only do we have that chance, but the level of involvement has prepared me and several other designers for professional stage."
Whether or not audiences know the difference between trunkhose, bum rolls, and the modern sneaker, the costumes at the FX Players' "Romeo and Juliet" will offer a visual treat for one and all.