The cast of “Elephant’s Graveyard,” (front row, from left) Stephanie Rathjen, Emily Hoffman, Cameron Daly, Miranda Newman and Trey McNeil; (middle row, from left) Amita Rao, Kyle Artone, Zane Piper, Annelise Jones, David Strauch, Khalied Bashri and Austin Burch; (back row) CJ Robinson. Photo Courtesy of Mike Hudson
Comedy, drama and four plays for the price of one are all on the bill at Centreville High. Its One-Act Play Festival is set for this Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-22, at 7:30 p.m. in the school theater. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Three of the shows, “Roomers,” “The Chocolate Affair” and “The Bald Soprano,” are student-directed. The fourth, “Elephant’s Graveyard,” is helmed by Centreville Theater Director Mike Hudson.
‘Roomers’
Directing “Roomers” is Austin Burch. “It’s about a bunch of crazy people in an apartment building in New York City,” said stage manager Sean Fletcher, a junior. “The show’s a fast-paced, hilarious comedy, with lots of exuberant interactions between all the cast members.”
There are 14 actors and, in the story, an old friend of one of the apartment residents comes to get help. She needs to get on her feet because she’s run away from her husband and taken her baby with her.
“The cast is amazing and we’ve all had a great time,” said Fletcher. “It’s one of my best experiences in theater, getting to see things from a directorial point of view and find out how different and unique it is. I learned how much work goes into making the decisions and doing everything else directors do.” He said the audience will like how quickly the story moves, the stereotypes of the characters and “how upbeat this show is.”
‘The Bald Soprano’
Directed by senior Cameron Daly, “The Bald Soprano” has a cast of six and is an absurdist piece by playwright Eugene Ionesco. “It’s a dark comedy with an overall message that diminishing communications within society have caused the individual to become replaceable,” said Daly. “Each person could be replaced by someone else, and the outcome of life wouldn’t change.”
She said her actors have done a “phenomenal” job. “By the second rehearsal, everything had already clicked and it was awesome,” said Daly. “It’s my third time directing and I love it. It’s fun because it lets me get my creative vision across. And I learned how to cooperate with people more, in general – directing reinforces that.”
Although it’s an ensemble cast, the leads are played by Miranda Newman, Josh Ewalt, Caity Sheerin and Andrew Dettmer. Daly said the audience will like this show because “It’s a different type of play and there’s a secret surprise at the end that’s going to freak everybody out.”
‘The Chocolate Affair’
“The Chocolate Affair” is directed by senior Stephanie Rathjen. The three-person cast is offering a dramedy about a mother who’s hit her breaking point and decides to steal her child’s Halloween candy.
“She goes to a sketchy hotel to eat it because she wants to appear perfect at home to her family,” said Rathjen. “But M&M and Mr. Goodbar come in and confront her about what she’s doing. I’m so happy with my wonderful cast, and I’m impressed with how they’ve personalized their characters.”
Rathjen’s used to acting but, this time, she said, “I have to think about what I want to see onstage, and it’s cool to make those decisions. As a director, I’m learning that each actor has to dig deep and get to know their character’s back story because it makes for a more interesting show. The audience will be able to connect with the mother’s inner struggle of wanting to keep up appearances, while being afraid of being judged.”
‘Elephant’s Graveyard’
Centreville Theater Director Mike Hudson directs “Elephant’s Graveyard.” Written by George Brant, it was the school’s entry in the Virginia Theatre Association competition, Oct. 23, in Norfolk.
“The cast did a tremendous job at VTA,” said Hudson. “Miranda Newman and Cameron Daly each won an acting award, and we also got the Technical Excellence Award for the whole conference, out of 60 schools performing.”
Featuring a cast of 14, it’s an ensemble piece dealing with a historical event. In 1916, a small Virginia circus, the Sparks Brothers Circus, was traveling. One of the animal handlers was killed by an elephant in a parade and, as punishment, the elephant was hanged. The play focuses on how the circus people and the townspeople view the event.
“The majority of the actors are from the advanced theater class and they’re doing a fabulous job,” said Hudson. “The show is episodic, moves at a fairly quick pace and definitely showcases the actors’ abilities. It’s about the harshness of human reality and man’s willingness to turn on something or someone quickly, and without explanation.”