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Highland High School drama club presents musical montage
 | | Daniel Newcomb, Caiti Lotts, Caitlyn Ralston, and Emily Wagner presented "The English Project," which involved reading Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven." |
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MONTEREY - The Highland High School drama club performed in front of a packed audience of middle and high school students on Thursday afternoon, April 10. Five members performed four one-acts, which included a poetry reading and an improvised musical montage.
The first act presented a contemporary story of two extreme high school character types, who were locked in a closet together playing the "Seven Minutes in Heaven" game at a party. Instead of kissing, of course, the two diverse personality types (one the most popular girl in school and the other the biggest nerd) found a new friendship by the end of the game, thanks to a beautiful ladybug. The act provided some hilarious and tender moments as the pair discovered their bond. Daniel Newcomb, a junior, in his third year with the club, played opposite Caiti Lotts, a sophomore in her second year.
In the next act, called the "English Project," four students prepared to read Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" for their English class assignment. Initially, the students sat in a moodless atmosphere and read with no emphasis or interest. Lotts suggested they portray the great American master of Gothic literature the "right" way - the way it was intended. Off the students went to forage in their teacher's closet to findblack robes, a table cloth and candelabra to set the mood. Improvisation took over as the actors engaged the audience in a Judge Judy moment and asked the audience to rise. Remarkably, the audience rose. Once settled, Newcomb, Lotts, Caitlyn Ralston, a freshman and first year member of the club, along with sophomore Emily Wagner, in her second year, began reciting the poem with a dramatic and edgy tone. Although Wagner at first was reluctant to partake, the others prodded her to join. After many suspenseful verses, accompanied by eerie background music, a raven flewoverhead; a cryptic sounding blend of keys rose from the piano, and lights flickered, which sent the students running off the stage (all compliments of Liz Prieto, the senior member of the club in her third year).
 | | Caiti Lotts and Daniel Newcomb entertained the crowd in Seven Minutes in Heaven. |
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Between each act, the students provided background music to keep the crowd entertained and allowed for the set changes. Their third act, called "The Message," brought Prieto in as the famous psychic Angelina, who was going to bring Alfred Grantz back from the dead. The agenda was for his wife, Maxine, played by Ralston, and lazy son Paul, played by Wagner, to locate the hidden winning lottery ticket. The lighting and Ouija board gave the audience the sense that Alfred's spirit was around. To no avail, the son and mother left and "stiffed" the psychic. However, Alfred's spirit came back to tell Angelina she was "cute" and led her to the $36 million lottery ticket. After some prodding from Albert (done through spotlighting), Angelina said she would take her $100 fee and donate the rest to Alfred's favorite charity - an animal shelter - much to the delightful approval from the "ruff-ruffs" and "meows" heard offstage.
 | | Daniel Newcomb sang a song during the Movie Montage. |
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To round the afternoon performance, the fivemembers improvised a movie musical montage. While friends sat around one evening waiting on Liz to bring pizza, they argued about what to do. When the pizza arrived, it was suggested they watch a movie. Each member chose a favorite musical, thriller, or adventure movie and either danced or sang a familiar piece while the others "booed" the choices. They ran the gambit from The Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music, High School Musical, Star Wars, and 007, until, finally, they all agreed on The Lion King. The actors vigorously belted out their final tunes and took their final bows to an appreciative and well-behaved audience.
 | | Liz Prieto (left) played a famous psychic in The Message which also starred Caitlyn Ralston, and Emily Wagner. (Photos courtesy Molly Mobley and Liz Hylton) |
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The drama club is in its 10th year. Director and sponsor, Lee Beasley, says she is gratified that even with small numbers, the dedicated talent from the members is truly outstanding. "Congratulations drama members, for a job well done," she says.
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