NPHS students bring characters to life onstage
Written, directed and performed by students, original characters came to life on the Newbury Park Performing Arts Center stage. When it comes to theater, the reflection of a student is no longer seen as they transform themselves into the character that they are portraying on stage. How is it, that as an audience, we are able to look past the people we see everyday in our classes or around campus, and watch as they alter their personality into the character written on a piece of paper?
The stars seen on stage in the Performing Arts Center all portrayed their characters with great fervor and effort. However, their characters spoke for themselves. Literally. Rather than the actors speaking about their characters, the actors spoke in character pertaining to the events of the play.
Like many other dinners, sitting around a table with food is not a time to discuss any controversial topics, especially when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner. Throughout the play, Thanksgiving, drama and unexpected surprises unfold during the Jones’ family gathering.
Michael, the eldest son, experienced many hardships throughout the play. Carrying the weight of one’s family on their shoulders is a difficult task, as well as hiding who one truly is. In the final few minutes of the play, Michael revealed that he is gay, much to the shock of his family. After the play, “[There was] a lot of ostracizing from the family…my mom and dad not being able to believe what happened. And they’re still in denial about it,” Michael said.
Awkward blind dates are not the ideal situation for most, especially for the main character of The Blind Date, Donna. After a traumatizing bullying experience with a man, Donna swears off dating indefinitely, however one can imagine her shock when she hit it off with the same man on a blind date
Donna and her former bully, Ace, end up together after a blind date which leads to a McDonald’s trip. Formerly closed off to love, Donna opens herself up to the possibility after falling for Ace. “At first I was very against going out with anyone because I was very into being independent, and then I had a change of heart because I realized the guy that I met was actually a sweetheart and willing to do anything for me,” Donna said.
What did the ocean say to the beach? Nothing, it just waved! Ha! The Fundamentals of Sailing follows a cranky captain who will follow his ship to the end. In contrast, his crew is not so serious. Nevertheless, according to Captain, a cruel fate awaits him. After the events of the show, “I drowned and died. I fell off my ship….the attachment [to the ship] was really strong,” Captain said.
The classic children’s TV show, Scooby Doo, has nothing on the talented cast of Where are you, Buddy-Doo. Solving an egregious mystery, Swaggy, Dolly, Veronica, Frank and Buddy-Doo took the stage with grace.
Buddy-Doo, the beloved pet dog, helped the gang solve the mystery of McClown alongside his best friend, Swaggy. The events caused a lot of stress for little Buddy, and after the case closed, he was able to relax with the gang. “We went over to a dancing party! Though we weren’t able to have fun there for too long because Frank found a new mystery to solve. I hope nothing too scary happens again,” Buddy-Doo said.
