Aquinas Learning’s teenage Marquee Thespians and pre-teen Young Thespians beautifully performed the classic “Pride and Prejudice,” and a theatrical rendition of the children’s book, “The Weight of a Mass” last month.
Aquinas is a classical Catholic homeschool curriculum based in Manassas, which focuses on truth, goodness and beauty. The program, founded in 2009 by homeschooling mom of five Rosario Reilly, was born from the desire for a consistent form of peer interaction and a solid scope and sequence of excellent, classical and Catholic education. As Aquinas has grown to include various clubs, the two-level Theatre Troupe course has become one of its most successful. It incorporates homeschoolers from many local groups in its productions.
The theater troupe’s director, Renée Danielle De Ponte, a seasoned stage actress, took on the challenge of adapting a stage production from Josephine Nobisso’s 2002 book, “The Weight of a Mass.” The book’s powerful message conveys the unmatched impact of one Mass, offered by a poor widow, written on a sheet of paper and measured on a scale to be heavier than countless pastries, baked goods and finally an entire wedding cake. The faith of a town is subsequently awakened by the miraculous mystery in the baker’s shop.
De Ponte, has a creative producing degree from Dodge College in Chapman University in Orange, Calif. She was inspired to write the stage play for her younger actors because she was moved by the story and its enduring message. After receiving permission to portray the book on stage, De Ponte’s father, a magician by trade, and her husband, a hobby woodworker, collaborated to create the magical scale that would illustrate a piece of paper tipping the scale further than a mountain of baked goods.
While the younger Aquinas students read “The Weight of a Mass” this school year, the older students read “Pride and Prejudice.” This was an equally exciting experience for audience members seated in the Journey Theater at Vint Hill, dazzled by live piano and violin accompaniment, beautiful costumes, and fitting set and stage pieces. The skill of the actors far exceeded their age as they leaned into the characters, bringing animation to the pages of Austen’s timeless work.
“Aquinas Learning is teaching future saints by marinating them in what is true, good and beautiful,” said Reilly. “We teach an integrated curriculum that brings relevance to their studies, allowing them to continue to ascend toward their final goal. There’s no richer marinade than diving deeply into a production of great works and being transformed by the marinade of rich words they have to memorize, elegant costumes, complicated hair designs, beautiful music, period dances and sets, and universal lessons that clearly and brightly reflect natural and divine laws.”
For De Ponte, who has directed plays with Aquinas for three years, the joy is in seeing the growth in her students over the years. The mission of their theatre troupe remains to “bring God glory and do something together as a team that we can be proud of and bring truth, goodness, and beauty into the world.”
Cook is a freelancer in Warrenton.
