Much Ado About Augustus

The Black Box in Fisher Theater glows with anticipation as senior Augustus Gilchrist takes the stage as King Lear, iambic pentameter booming into the audience as he skillfully captures Lear’s maddened character. Gilchrist’s role as Lear in the DRAMAT production last spring is just one of his many successful roles and theatrical additions to Exeter.

After failing to make the cut in the mainstage production of Antigone his prep year, Gilchrist decided to audition for DRAMAT, Exeter’s student-run theater group. “Next thing I knew, I was cast as a policeman in a parlor comedy about old ladies who poison their suitors,” Gilchrist said. This was the first of many plays and the beginning of four years of involvement in the performing arts at Exeter.

Because Gilchrist’s biggest passion is the investigation of “how people relate to one another, to their circumstances and to the world around them,” theater has been a medium in which he has been able to further that passion. Gilchrist explores human relations in many areas of what he does, from his academic work to his day-to-day interactions with friends. But in DRAMAT, Gilchrist has manifested his passions creatively.

“Through theater I have been able to explore the essence of human relations in a way I might not have been able to do off the stage,” Gilchrist said. “Shakespeare was not mincing words when he said ‘all the world’s a stage,’—in a way, it’s quite true.”

As a co-head of DRAMAT, Augustus plays an integral part in the weekly, student-run plays brought to the Academy. He maintains order while remaining loved by his DRAMAT board members. “Augustus carries himself with humor always, but still manages to maintain an air of authority,” senior and board member Jad Seligman said. Gilchrist ensures that DRAMAT balances an attitude of productivity with an atmosphere of fun on which the club thrives.

As an extraordinary comedian, Gilchrist always lightens the moods of those around him while keeping trained on the task at hand. “I don’t know what DRAMAT would do without the guy—he is the poster child of pragmatism and he keeps us grounded when we need work done, while managing to consistently be one of the funniest people on this campus,” senior and board member Joshwald Martinez said.

Another member of the DRAMAT board, upper Ruby Fludzinski, also commented on Gilchrist’s natural comedic ability. “I remember being on the improv troupe and thinking he was by far the funniest person on the team. He always got a laugh out of everybody in the room,” Fludzinski said.

Additionally, Gilchrist’s peers admire his work ethic. “His dedication to his role as King Lear last year was impressive. Not only was the role demanding in respect to line memorizing, but also in respect to inhabiting the psyche of a man slowly slipping into madness,” Martinez said.

Senior and DRAMAT co-head Liz Hoover commended his impressive ability to commit to any character, no matter the circumstance.

“Augustus wholeheartedly takes any role that he is given. I’ve seen him rock a painted trash can and a skin-tight dress. He puts all of himself into any persona he needs to,” Hoover said.

Hoover also commented on Gilchrist’s fearlessness and leadership ability. “He loves to stand at the chalkboard and write things at board meetings. He is an unashamedly bold leader,” Hoover said.

Augustus has also grown through his different positions in DRAMAT. While acting, he learned “how to channel another persona,” as well as how to memorize fat blocks of Early Modern English. As a board member and co-head, he said he has learned “how closely people value their art, and that good art is nothing without effective presentation.”

Gilchrist and Senior Zach Hamdi have directed and rehearsed Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” since the beginning of winter term, and DRAMAT will perform it this spring. Gilchrist agreed to co-direct the play and take the reigns while Hamdi was abroad in Ecuador this winter because of a belief in the value of DRAMAT putting up big Shakespeare productions, like King Lear. Because of the length of the play, it has been a stressful production and a feat to rehearse, but because of the fantastic cast and co-direction, Gilchrist believes that they will craft a good production.

In order to pursue Shakespeare, as well as the English culture and history, Gilchrist went abroad to Stratford in England for this past Fall term.

Senior Katie Casado, who also went to Stratford, said that Gilchrist’s poetry was indicative of his academic passions, with the same edge that he embodies. His dark and witty humor combined with charisma and a spirit of adventure made Gilchrist an essential member of the Stratford group.

Senior Cornelia Smith, another member of the Stratford trip, also commented on Gilchrist’s distinct presence. She mentioned his intelligent humor and relevant comments as well as her admiration for “the way he did not use England as a backdrop. He immersed himself within the culture and fully took advantage of what the country had to offer,” Smith said.