Rion, who recently moved to a new town, made it a primary goal of his to make a difference in people’s lives, by sharing his love for the stars and the metaphorical aspect of them to those he met. He underestimated the amount of troubled people he would find in this new town, as each person he met seemed to have their own personal struggle. Whether it was the recent loss of a family member, having a terminal disease, self-confidence issues, or being involved in a serious crime — ten high schoolers would meet on the hill and proclaim their hopes and desperations to the stars.

The layout of the show consisted of short scenes interjected by personal monologues to the audience exposing the high schoolers’ innermost secrets. The curtain would open and close to expose either a schoolyard scene or a bedroom backed by a simple black curtain. With few lighthearted moments throughout the show, the overarching moral was ingrained in the minds of everyone present, hoping that everything in their lives will be okay.

Of the ten friends several were able to shine as bright as the stars they placed their hopes in. Chris Carpenter (Mark) suffered from an aching heart. Where he did not have as ‘serious’ an issue as his friends, he provided stability and romance to the complex set of characters the show presented. His composure on stage provided for an extremely genuine experience as he continuously tried to profess his love to his lifelong friend. Niecy Lindsay (Fern) showed the widest range of emotion out of anyone on the stage. She was able to be tough, as she associated with her gang members, and completely break down in her private monologues. Her delivery filled the auditorium with genuine pain and passion. She made the audience believe she actually felt the agony of cold-blooded murderer. Someone else who believably displayed the pain of killing a man was Kim Kasik (Erica). Throughout the entire show she carried around a stuffed dog from a man who gave his life to save hers. Though reserved in character, she displayed unadulterated concern for every one of her friends with believable and accurate emotion. Sporadic comedic relief for the otherwise depressing show came from Karla Vargas (Ms. Compton). Her over-the-top vocal inflections provided humor to the outrageous advice she gave to the high schoolers as their school counselor. Her few moments on stage provided a needed shift in emotion.

Technical elements of the show remained simple. The stage crew efficiently transitioned between set pieces as a short instrumental played to mask the rustling. Spotlights were usually on cue, as they indicated the beginning and end of a monologue or scene.

Though written by a high school junior, the maturity of the actors and the writing was far beyond what someone would expect from a student. This truly original production touched everyone in the audience and assured them that with hope and the support of people who love you, no problem is unconquerable.

by Kelsey Golias of Fairfax High School

Photo Gallery

Kim Kasik (Erica)	Chris Carpenter (Mark), Michael Greene (Saul), Rachel Parmelee (Cassie), Cheyenne Patane (Diana), David Hanggi (Rion), Kim Kasik (Erica), Tessa Bailey (Maia), Gagan Dhanoya (Vincent), and Celene Carter (Norma)
Virdi Neri, Stephanie Buck, Neicy Lindsay (Fern), Diana Starbird, and Audris Nazareno (The Black Dahlias)	David Hanggi, Neicy Lindsay and Kim Kasik
Kim Kasik, Gagan Dhanoya, Cheyenne Patane, Celene Carter, Michael Greene and Tessa Bailey

Photos by James Hanggi

Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan is a four-act comedy first produced in 1892. Following Wilde’s characteristically witty tone, this satire of Victorian society follows Lady Windermere as she discovers that her husband is having an affair. As she confronts both her husband and the “other woman,” comedic twists and turns follow each of the characters as they learn that not everything is what is seems.

One of the strongest aspects of this production was the control of language by the cast. Many of the performers clearly understood the subtleties of Wilde’s language, and were able to perform it in a way that was clearly understood. Each performer’s true caring about his or her character also created the charm of this show.

As the title role, Shannon Kitchen was able to portray a woman devastated by betrayal. She was committed to each moment of her character’s emotional journey, and was entirely sympathetic. Her excellent accent work also stood out, as her British dialect never once wavered. The love between herself and Lord Windermere, played by Michael Hibbs, was also evident through her pain. Hibbs also had dedication to his role, delivering a passionate monologue at the end of the play exceedingly well.

As The Duchess of Berwick, the woman who casually informs Lady Windermere of her husband’s infidelities, Ebonee Johnson was a standout performer. She embraced her character’s physicality, and each line was delivered in a hilariously prudish manner. Her interactions with her silent daughter, Lady Agatha Carlisle (Briana Carter), also had true chemistry. In her role, Carter was able to use her facial expressions and body language to make up for her character’s lack of lines, and made her feelings towards her mother clear.

Although this show did have some issues with certain technical aspects, the set dressing and lighting were done well. The furniture and decorations were all period and looked at home in the living room of a wealthy couple. The lighting was effective, as no actor was ever in shadow or darkness. The number of costumes made for the show was impressive, and the outfits of almost all of the main characters stood out and made their social status clear.

In Manassas Park’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, the value of love, honestly, and fidelity are all discussed in a bitingly blasé manner – after all, who really knows the truth?

by Amanda Miesner of Chantilly High School

Photo Gallery

Lady Windermere (Shannon Kitchen) & Lord Darlington (Troy Tibbs)	The Duchess of Berwick (Ebonee Johnson) and Lady Agatha (Briana Carter)
Lord Windermere (Michael Hibbs) and Cecil Graham (Jake Pearson)	The Gentlemen (Lord Windermere – Michael Hibbs, Dumby – Judah Marshall, Cecil Graham – Jake Pearson, Lord Augustus Lorton – Lane Peyton)
Lord Windermere (Michael Hibbs) & Lady Windermere (Shannon Kitchen)

Photos by Harry Starbird