Silence. Actors either use it for effect or are fearful to use its outcome. Drama students are taught to take advantage of body language, projection, and tone of voice. All of these elements, which often go unnoticed, can make or break a drama performance.

Many students in the drama class say that drama is tons of fun, but like any other class with deadlines, it can be hectic and panic-filled.

Jamie Meadows, ’03, along with a few other students take pleasure in drama because it is an excuse to act totally insane and become someone that you are not.

“I like acting crazy and getting into the role that I am playing,” Meadows said. “It really takes the audience into the performance and gives me a chance to make people realize that I actually can talk.”

Drama teacher Tom McEntee loves being a part of the drama class and enjoys experimenting with new dramas. He has chosen Moliere’s The Love Doctor as their newest drama to be performed.

Meadows, who portrays one of five doctors, was called in to try to cure Lucinda’s (Katie Haskin, ?03) love-sickness. Meadows, as Doctor Bleeder, believes the solution is blood-letting. However, no special effects are used in the play.

A French comedy set in the 17th century, The Love Doctor portrays an overprotective father, Greg Tharpe, ?04, who has a lovesick daughter and a conniving maid who tries to scheme the rich man into letting his daughter marry her true love.

“The significance of performing this drama on various occasions is that the students work hard and, I want them to show more than one audience all they have done,” McEntee said. “Also, I need at least three shows so that the understudies can perform.”

Many students say that drama is a fun chance for them to do what they really love. Class members are able to express themselves in a whole new way through a drama. Tharpe, as Sganerelle, is one of the experienced associates in drama and loves to be a part of the class.

“I enjoy being in drama because it is my love and my passion,” Tharpe said. “When I am onstage I feel the most at home. I love opening up myself in dramas.”

Another active member in drama is Lacy Hearnsberger, 03′, who likes it that McEntee treats the class as if they were professional actors. Her favorite part about drama is that she gets to discover new things about herself through her acting. Being one of the four senior girls in drama, she feels she has a leadership role to fill.

“I am one of the veteran students of drama along with a few others, so my role is to stay open and set an active example for the new actors to get involved,” Hearnsberger said. “It also makes it easier for me because I do not get intimidated to try new material.”

Hearnsberger portrays Lisette, a self-motivated maid-servant, who steers the action of the play by orchestrating a scheme to see her mistress (Lucinda) married despite her father’s objection. Clitander, played by Jesse Madsen, ?05, pretends to be a man of medicine but his real skill is in the subject of love and focuses his attention on Lucinda.

McEntee said drama is focusing on putting all their hard work into dramas that challenge their acting ability this year, and cannot wait to take on some more challenging scripts.

Drama will perform The Love Doctor on Nov. 7 at 11:15 a.m. in Ground Zero during chapel and at the Sunrise Convalescent home on a date yet to be announced.