Lights, camera, drama

One more quarter left, and then most of the students at Marysville High School can be proud of what they have accomplished. The year is about to end, and this final quarter definitely is filled with an overwhelming amount of excitement because of college acceptance letters, spring break and SAT and AP tests.

To end the year, the MHS Drama Club accepted the challenge of attempting to stage a performance near the end of May. Auditions for this play, called "Belles," were held Monday.

The play features six women in different cities. The action takes place through a series of phone calls. To me, this was a puzzling enigma, for I wondered how it could be executed.

Shawnie Bushnell, an English teacher and Drama Club adviser, is very excited about the play. She said, "Everything is through dialogue. The reason why the play is so good is that everything is through this dialogue, and all the actors are main character types."

The play is different from the ones typically performed because plays usually involve some sort of eye contact between the characters.

Estela Cortez, a senior who is in her third year with the Drama Club, said, "I like being able to act in front of people and getting to know the actors during the rehearsals. I am excited for this play because it seems easy and can be pulled off since there are only six actresses really needed."

Many students do not find drama compelling and therefore decide not to participate in theater. They choose to participate in other extracurricular activities that suit them, which reduces the number of potential actors for our Drama Club. Drama used to be offered as a class at MHS, but school budget cuts led to it becoming a club instead.

Abigail Wissink, a senior and Drama Club president, said, "I really enjoy drama and love being able to step into some other person's shoes. I get nervous usually only for a split second, but then it is really fun."

If you want to find out more, you will have to come watch the play when the performance dates are announced.

Abigail said her favorite dramatic moment was during a scene in a play when she was a sophomore. "In the play, one of the actresses was unfortunately stuck in the closet without a way to escape, so she ran out, crying, 'It's a ghost!' I was trying to get the audience to calm down, but it was so funny."

Abigail and her fellow Drama Club members know how to get out of these kinds of unexpected situations. The play, performed in 2010, was very comedic because that performance was like the proverbial curse, which ensures that theatrics never go as smoothly as planned.

Earlier in the year, the Drama Club also organized a talent show, the "Variety Show," which featured MHS students showcasing their talents. The talent show was a success and raised funds for the club.

Drama Club students at MHS will work hard to make their performance of "Belles" a splendid one. So come out and support them and help make the end of the school year memorable.

Courtney Ngai is a senior at Marysville High School. Her column appears every six weeks in Education.