Matrix Co-Editor in Chief

Volume XXXVIII: Issue 4: Page 12

Over the weekend, the ahsDRAMA seniors took the stage to showcase their student-written One Acts. The performances which took place on Friday, Feb. 10 through Sunday Feb. 12 were a success. Drama Club director Carol Patterson said of this year’s’ seniors, “It is always tough to take an authority position with peers, they have handled it well.”

 

What Not to Do on a Talk Show

Co-Directed by Dana Bauman and Emily Butcher

During freshman year, Senior Emily Butcher began planning her One Act after watching a commercial from Oprah’s talk show. Soon, Butcher and co-director Dana Bauman began creating a final copy where they “wanted to not only make it funny, but put in key issues or big events that were happening at the time.”

Butcher agreed with other One Act directors that the new responsibilities of being a director could be stressful at times. “As a director, you have to cast members to be in the play, plan rehearsals around everyone’s schedules and make sure everyone is prepared. It’s a lot of work.”

Furthermore, the directors had to cast an understudy for one of the main characters, Damien.

Although the person in the cast could not perform Damien all three nights, Butcher added, “I think that’s what I look forward to the most – seeing how two different people interpret the same character.”

Reflecting on other events from the casting process, Butcher added, “For a few people, I knew immediately during their audition that I wanted them in my cast. Some people fit into the roles naturally. Others, I was surprised at how well they shifted into the role in such a short period as auditions.”

Praising her cast, Butcher closed stating, “I really think my cast is fantastic.”

 

Los Tres Naftonians

Co-Directed by Eli Redfern and Caleb Sarchione

“Los Tres Naftonians,” also called “It Ain’t Nothin’ but Corn,” examines political issues that affect the world today.

Director Caleb Sarchione explained, “We are taking a radical approach to the issue of NAFTA, the trade agreement with Mexico and the problems it brings for the poor Mexican farmer.”

Both directors starting writing the One Act with the intention of sending a message to the audience through their play.

“The meaning of our play is just to bring the audience closer to the common man and closer to the person rather than the government. We are trying to bring up issues that our government does,” Sarchione explained.

Having previously acted in two other One Acts in past years, Sarchione continued, “When you’re a director, you get a lot more control over what your actors do. It’s nice seeing you idea form into a play rather than being a part of a play.”

And in the case of “Los Tres Naftonians,” Sarchione also hopes that the audience sees the message imbedded in the play.

 

Life’s Not a Chick-Flick

Co-Directed by Dan Harrington and Gabe Lopez

Taking a different approach to their One Act, Seniors Gabe Lopez and Dan Harrington decided to create “a One Act within a One Act.”

Lopez explained, “There is the nice guy (Harrington) who has a crush on a girl. The girl (Junior Bekah Miller) is dating a jerk (Junior Lucas Reilly). We have [the characters] watching a movie, which is being acted out behind them, in another ‘One Act.’.”

Then, the One Act unfolded a parallel scene in the movie on the other side of the stage. Like the previous set-up with Harrington, Miller and Reilly, there is another “nice guy,” “beautiful girl” and “jerk.”

Originally, Lopez and Harrington planned on satirizing those who watch chick flicks, but Lopez continued, “in the end, we actually did the opposite. In our One Act, we make fun of people who say chick flicks don’t relate to real life. We compare the two right next to each other on stage and show how situations end up differently in the One Act compared to real life. However, we also showed that they can be very similar.”

 

Lenses

Co-Directed by Caitie Crock and Will Drabold 

Inspired by the recent stories about bullying, Seniors Caitie Crock and Will Drabold joined together to write “Lenses.”

Crock, now in her second year of directing One Acts, stated, “I personally prefer to be a director, mostly because I have an opportunity to shape what the performance will look like without actually being on stage.”

“Our One Act is about perception, and how someone might react when their world is turned upside down,” Crock continued.

Ultimately, according to Crock, the biggest message that she wanted the audience to take from her One Act was “DBAD.”

 

Reunion

Co-Directed by Natalia Sanchez and Ali Smith

Senior Natalia Sanchez started describing her One Act, co-directed with Senior Alison Smith, by describing the new experience of being a director.

“I think being a director might be more stressful than actually acting. [However,] I think being a director is a lot more fun – obviously, you get to see what you wrote out there. It’s completely differen to act and direct.”

Sanchez continued by describing her One Act, “The play starts out right before high school is ending. It goes on ten years later, and basically shows how much people change after high school. Our play goes to show that the stereotypes in high school are not necessarily what you are going to be after high school.”