By: Caroline Tobjasz
Gene Connor, director of Syosset’s ACT Chapter for the past three decades, directed his final show Much Ado About Nothing. The popular Shakespearean comedy, likely written in the late 16th century, intertwines two love stories in Messina. One follows the witty and combative romance between Beatrice and Benedick, while the other centers on the more straightforward but threatened romance of Hero and Claudio. The play explores themes of love, deception, honor, and redemption, using eavesdropping and gossip as key plot devices, particularly through the villainous Don John’s plot to ruin Hero’s reputation and the schemes of friends attempting to bring Beatrice and Benedick together. Mr. Connor said, “This last show, Much Ado About Nothing, is the 86th show I’ve been a part of here. It’s a good, nice, even number to end on.”
The school has a tradition of performing Shakespeare as the third play of the year, with only two exceptions in 29 years, the year impacted by COVID-19 and a year when the school performed The Laramie Project to promote tolerance. Mr. Connor originally wanted to direct The Comedy of Errors, his first Shakespeare production, to bring the cycle full circle. However, he later changed his mind to create more opportunities for female actors. He said, “This one allowed me to take a lot of the parts that were written for males and turn them into female parts, so I could expand it out and get more opportunities.” The production was heavily inspired by a trip to London last May, specifically a play called Operation Mincemeat and the architecture of the Tower of London. Mr. Connor said, “I really got inspired last year when we went to visit London. I saw a play where men and women played multiple parts. Some men played female roles, and women played male roles. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’ Because, you know, it was World War II in London, and lots of women took on more male-oriented roles.”
Mr. Connor also expressed excitement about the group of aspiring actors, actresses, and backstage crew members involved in the production. “For my final hurrah here, I was so happy with the work that everybody did, the design, the technical crew, and the actors,” he said. Reflecting on Connor’s vision for this year’s play, senior Valerie Liang said, “Connor’s vision for Much Ado in particular was marked by his thoughtfulness in balancing both the tragic and comedic elements in this play, as well as his insistence on giving each character a backstory and complex layers. He imagined Much Ado as a story set in London after World War II, which set the tone for the characters trying to make the most of their tragic lives through masquerade celebrations and the simple joy of marriage.” Valerie also commented on the atmosphere Connor created during rehearsals and within the cast. She said, “Connor has always been the source from which we derive our motivation and determination, and he’s certainly always stoked the flames of our passion to push us to be the best thespians and versions of ourselves we can be. For years, he’s developed the amazing camaraderie and sense of community that makes ACT unique through our many traditions, from our upbeat dance warmups to his words of encouragement right before our performances.”
Throughout his time at Syosset, Mr. Connor made many sacrifices for each production he directed. He routinely worked 11 to 16-hour days and spent weekends at the school preparing for musicals. “This has been sort of my home for almost 30 years. I’ve probably spent more time in this building than I’ve spent in my own home,” he said. Each production required an immense amount of time, dedication, and care for the school’s theater department, and this play was no exception. With that said, Mr. Connor developed extensive experience in fostering an environment where young thespians can grow into their authentic selves. Valerie said, “He’s provided a safe space for all of us. We all feel safe confiding in him, whether we have something we need to get off our chests or an accomplishment we want to share with him. He’s given me the room to be the passionate person I am without any judgment. He’s created that beautiful sense of community you can’t get anywhere else.” One piece of advice he hopes to leave behind for students at Syosset comes from his experience playing Polonius in an upcoming production of Hamlet. He referenced Polonius’ famous advice to his son, Laertes, as his own farewell message to the school. “‘This above all else: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man,’” Mr. Connor quoted. A prime example of Connor’s advice in action can be seen through Valerie’s reflections on his retirement. She said, “Connor has helped us grow as people and thespians in too many ways to count…and he encourages us to stand up and be bold with our choices.”
Gene Connor’s legacy at Syosset High School cannot be measured solely by the 86 productions he helmed, but by the generations of students he inspired to be boldly and authentically themselves. While the final curtain has fallen on his time with the ACT Chapter, the safe space, deep camaraderie, and passion for the arts he cultivated will remain embedded in the school’s theater department for years to come. As Mr. Connor steps off the high school stage and into his next act, the Syosset community bids him a bittersweet au revoir, forever grateful for the decades he spent turning a school building into a true home. To echo Shakespeare’s quote, he said, “It’s way too easy to get caught up in what you think you should be based on what other people expect you to be. Be who you are.”
