MARYSVILLE – Escaping from reality is one reason why some people like to perform in plays.
That is even more so for some students at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, considering their reality the past two weeks has included a shooting that killed four of their classmates.
The “Twilight Zone” cast has grieved just like the rest of the community. One person quit because they were so distraught. The director and drama teacher, Roy Klementsen, was teaching freshman English to two of the girls who died, and his teaching assistant is a sister of the other female victim.
“Things have been a little tough this week,” Klementsen said.
Anyone who has ever see the old television series knows it is a psychological thriller, sometimes with violence. Because of the shooting, the cast decided to rewrite the script to be sensitive to the community. Now parts of the play are more like a parody of the series.
“We’re totally rewriting the script,” Klementsen said, adding some students had a hard time focusing, especially on all the changes.
For Taylor Collier, a junior, this is her first play.
“I like being on stage, breaking out of my shell, and being a different person,” she said.
She plays Anabelle Streator, one of the main characters in the third of the four episodes in the play called “Living Doll.”
She said the hardest part for her about performing is engaging with the audience. She has a tendency to want to talk to the other actors. She said memorizing her lines hasn’t been that hard.
“It’s like school work, I guess. If you study it becomes second nature,” she said.
Senior Evan Staback may have the hardest role of all, playing Rod Serling the narrator, whose voice is world-famous.
“It’s very cool, but I feel the pressure,” he said, adding he’s studying the speaking style of Serling.
Like Taylor, he likes “being something he’s not.” He was Capt. Hook in Peter Pan last year. He also likes the social aspect of being in a play.
“I like the people I work with. It’s a dedicated group,” he said.
Evan admitted it’s been an emotional week, and the changes in the play have been challenging and trying to the cast. He said he wished they could have stuck with the original show, but with the parody he likes hearing the funny ideas to boost his spirits.
Along with the school shooting, Evan has had tragedy of his own. His grandpa died and his aunt was diagnosed with terminal cancer recently.
“That’s demoralized me,” Evan said. “This has been a good diversion.”
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Who: Marysville-Pilchuck High School Drama Club
What: “The Twilight Zone: Live on Stage!”
When: Nov. 13-15 and 20-22 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: M-PHS auditorium, 5611 108th St. NE.
Cost: $7 adults, $5 students.
Episode 1: “Time Enough At Last,” Henry Bemis just wants time to read.
Episode 2: “It’s a Good Life,” a little boy named Anthony is so powerful everyone is afraid to say anything negative against him.
Episode 3: “Living Doll,” reminds us, long before “Toy Story,” that we should be nice to toys.
Episode 4: “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” takes us on a plane that may or may not be terrorized by an evil gremlin.
Other M-P and Marysville Getchell cast members: Sage Fairbanks, Jessica Hamilton, Atrayu Sweet, Jamar Mendoza, Derreck Vantrece, Chaquala Davis, Elizabeth Price, Chloe Larsen, Michael Richmond, Laura Koty, Skylar Van der Putten, Melanie Stagner, Mallory Ford, Megan White, Victoria Willey, Shaelyn Parkins and Michelle Bezuglyy.
