The lights in the Black Box Theater dimmed the evening of Feb. 3. Quiet shuffling and the turning of programs that read “The 2024 Winter One Acts Festival” were the only noise in the room. In the fresh darkness, a solo spotlight lit the stage for an eloquent introduction by Theatre instructor Mary Kildare, radiating with pride for her students. With the words, “Hope you enjoy,” she disappeared backstage and the curtains parted. A round table with a girl and an empty seat became the focal point for the audience.
This opening scene, written by David Ives and directed by senior Louisa Li, captivated viewers with a creative twist. A boy approached a girl reading in a cafe and their following conversation was controlled by a bell centered on the table. Each time it was clicked, the couple’s conversation restarted, allowing for a do-over. The couple altered different aspects of their identities until they successfully connected. The comedic nature, originality and creative timeline of this One Act left the audience delighted and laughing.
As the lights darkened once more, crew members set up for the next scene. The next performances touched on modern dating, mental health, middle school science fairs, high school relationships and therapy. Each was very well crafted and characterized by clever writing as well as talented acting.
These single-act plays were all written and directed by the theatre ensemble class, composed of mostly seniors and a junior.
“It starts with a first draft,” said senior Christian Chan, director of “Tables.” “You have an idea and you present it.”
From then on, under Kildare’s guidance, the class revises, edits and eventually brings the scripts to life. Student directors cast actors and then rehearsal begins.
“It’s hard work memorizing and practicing, but it goes very fast and it’s a lot of fun,” sophomore Alia Lalvani said.
Alia was unable to choose her favorite between the three separate plays she performed in.
“I loved them all!” she said.
One performance stood out for its creativity and depth. It began with two tables on opposite sides of the stage, one for senior Sina Emtiaz, who played the husband and another for senior Sophia Sun, who played the wife. From a humorous beginning to a somber end, this story chronicled the relationship of a couple. The entire story was told through Post-It notes the two left for each other. This piece covered the struggles of marriage, parenthood and grief. It created a powerful exploration of life, death and love. One impactful line mentioned how the husband wished he had saved every note his wife wrote him, from mundane reminders to declarations of their love. Written by Paul Dooley and Winnie Holzman and directed by senior Riley Robinson, whose team earned raucous applause for their excellent performance.
