| HHS
to Perform Classic Tale |
By Leah M. Kosin
Observer Staff Writer |
| Next week, about 30 students from Herndon High School will
travel back in time to the 1930s as they visit Maycomb, a
small town in Alabama that has been divided by racism. |
| Beginning next Friday, drama students will perform "To
Kill a Mockingbird", where the issue of racism arises
and the division of a town is dealt with, all told from the
perspective of a child. |
| Through the memories of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch,
played by seniors Lauryn McCarter and Emma Jasper, viewers
learn about the time when Scout's father, Atticus Finch, played
by junior Abe Woyke, is called upon to defend a local black
man accused of attacking and raping a white woman. The claims
are bought forth by the girl's father, Robert E. Lee "Bob"
Ewell, played by senior George Lyons. |
| "The conviction was brought up by the woman's family,
who's very dysfunctional, and the play is about the journey
of the town going on this trial, the journey of the Finch
family, and it's all told through the young children's eyes,"
said Sarah Bever, theater director. "It's really interesting
because it deals with a lot of universal themes, humanity
and prejudice, hope and courage, and you see it through this
snapshot portrait of a small town in nowhere Alabama." |
| The drama students have presented a variety of comedies
in the past, but Bever said she chose to perform "To
Kill a Mockingbird" because it is an informal play with
universal themes applicable to a town or city anywhere. |
| "It really is representative of everyday courage and
everyday convictions of people like Atticus, who do the right
thing even when it's not easy," Bever said. "Even
though the end of the play is tragic, there's still a small
step of progress that is made." |
| Bever said she is looking forward to the process of putting
the play together. With only one week left to practice, Bever
said there is a lot of work that needs to be done. |
| "We have to finish the set; we have to finish focusing
the lights; we have to paint. It's a ton of work," Bever
said. "We've been working on the weekends, after school,
every day. But I'm so excited. I'm like crazy excited about
this. It's going to be beautiful." |
| Jasper, who plays "Scout," agreed. "To Kill
a Mocking Bird" will be her last fall production at the
school, and Jasper said she is looking forward to the performance.
|
| "I'm just looking forward to getting up there and performing
my last fall play with all my friends," Jasper said.
"It's going to be a really good show and everyone knows
the book, so we're going to get big audiences and we're doing
it really well." |
| "I'm really excited. ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird' is one
of my favorite books. I read it last year and when I heard
that we were doing it this year I was like, ‘Yes,'" said
senior Dustin Vandenberg, who will perform as Arthur "Boo"
Radley. "I think most of us have already read it and
the play is like really true to the book. It goes along with
it really well." |
| Bever said she is looking forward to telling a beautiful
story honestly and really well. She said so far she has been
impressed by her students' ability to perform and looks forward
to opening night. |
| "I've been ridiculously impressed with my students,
and I set the expectations and the bar really high for the
quality of acting that we want to do," Bever said. "We
just want to be really excellent, and we want to be really
honest in our portrayal of the characters and they have been
very mature about the whole process. It deals with a lot of
mature themes, and they've stepped up to the plate and have
done a really good job." |
| "I've been in several comedies before and I'm glad
to see that we can take on something dramatic," said
Woycke, who plays Atticus Finch. "I think there's enough
in this play that anybody can enjoy it. It has its light moments,
it has its dark moments, and even though it has some risqué
moments, children can come and it's not anything profoundly
inappropriate. It's something anyone can enjoy." |
| "To Kill a Mockingbird" will be performed Nov.
9 to 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Herndon High School.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Call Herndon
High School at 703-810-2200. |
