Throughout the year, friends and veterans of The Feather Online will contribute to its coverage, in order to feature events beyond Fresno Christian’s own walls. Here, former Feather staff Paul Ocheltree reports on the theater department at his new high school.
For more information about FC’s drama production on March 8, read the Feb. 1 article, Drama prepares ‘Babbling Brooks’.
Slaves, exploration and compassion fill the words and scenes of Big River, a musical based on Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Bullard High School will perform the production March 11-12 and 18-19.
The upbeat music and morals of equality aim to give the show a compelling aspect. Although it finds purpose as an entertaining musical, the play hopes to convey thought-provoking ideas of acceptance through examples of differing attitudes towards race.
Actress Tori Sasso, ’12, who acted the part of Penny Pingleton in Roger Rocka’s performance of Hairspray plays a more minor part in this male-dominated play but says she is excited to try out a new role.
“I’m looking forward to getting to do a different kind of role than I normally do,” Sasso said. “I’m usually the comedic kind of character, but in this one I’m the sweet, nice girl. It’ll be a new experience for me.”
Playing the part of Huckleberry Finn, Phil Sarkisian, ’12, felt compelled to try out for the play after one of his previous roles as Romeo in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and received the lead role again.
“I had a lot of friends pushing for me to try out for it,” Sarkisian said. “I’m looking forward to putting on a good show with the rest of the cast. I like the music a lot. It’s simple and it’s upbeat!”
The play has parts for many slave roles, which portray the history of the South, where the book takes place. Another actor, Jamar Thompson, ’10, who also acted in “Romeo and Juliet” will act as a slave. He says he likes his part due to its lasting impact.
“It’s hard to get into character sometimes without taking offense,” Thompson said. “It’s hard to keep it separate. I think the play tells a good story, it talks about slave times and how not everyone was racist. The play shows good nature in people back then. Nowadays fights are based on race and color. I think this play could show another side to people.”
Dijanee Morris, ’11, also plays the part of a slave and enjoys the play because it has “a message that everyone is equal through blind eyes.”
“I feel my character is a strong slave because she still praises the Lord and has faith in him even through the pains she goes through for being a slave,” Morris said. “I’m looking forward to my solo actually. It’s during the slave’s song, ‘Waiting for the Light to Shine.’ It’s the most inspirational song in the entire play. My favorite part is when we do the opening number, ‘Do you want to go to Heaven?'”
According to Michael Martin, ’12, the play provides profitable opportunities for aspiring actors.
“I tried out for Big River because I want to be known and be an actor when I grow up,” Martin said. “My character is Judge Thatcher. I love having the sense of power and being more educated than the other characters. My favorite part is the adrenaline and excitement you get when you see the audience with all eyes on you.”
Big River will be performed at Bullard High School in the theater on the north side of the campus. Shows will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for adults.
For more information, check out Bullard’s Web site.
The FC drama department will perform ‘The Babbling Brooks’ on March 8 and 12. For more information, read the Feb. 1 article, Drama prepares ‘Babbling Brooks’ or e-mail advisor Brianne Vogt.
