Meeting college scholarship deadlines, ordering gradua-tion accessories, evaluating SAT/ACT test scores and juggling jobs while getting through classes at FHS could drive any senior to an insane asylum, but for senior Robyn Rose it already has. “Cagebirds,” a play she is directing and acting in, is a well-fitting metaphor of a typical high school senior’s life. “When I read the script of “Cagebirds,” it was so haunting and strange,” said Rose of the play, which takes place within an insane asylum. “I was instantly infatuated.” Both Rose and junior Jake Pendle, who directed “The Matchmaker,” have taken the Advanced Acting experience one step further. As well as directing, both are acting in their plays. Acting and directing at the same time can be a balancing act, in which student directors try to focus on directing while acting. “Now I know what it’s like to be Woody Allen,” said Rose. “Doing both acting and directing is extremely tough.” “I knew that directing a play and acting in it too would be a challenge but I wanted to see if I was up for it,” said Pendle. “Directing is the hardest thing I could have taken on. It’s a lot of hard work and responsibility.” The assistant director for “Cagebirds,” senior Stacy Amundson, says she hopes to direct a play next semester. The experience of directing has really been positive, says Amundson, and she gives most of the credit to the cast. “We have an awesome cast for ‘Cagebirds,’” said Amundson. “They respect the director’s decisions and they are really easy to work with.” “The Matchmaker” has had to overcome many obstacles, such as losing a lighting director and a main character due to a surgery. “Matchmaker had a rough start, but it’s smooth sailing now,” said Pendle. “We have a very devoted cast, which is what it takes for a play to be successful.” Solid acting skills are a necessity, and both Rose and Pendle have acquired that background. Rose has been acting for eight years and Pendle for three. Both agree that while they enjoy acting, directing is more fun. “I found that being the puppet-master is just as fun and even more so than acting,” said Rose. “I hope to write a play in the future and then direct it.” “Both acting and directing have their highlights and downfalls,” said Pendle. “I think of directing an entire show as a big ball of clay that is at my fingertips that I can mold into a masterpiece.” Rose is very optimistic and excited about opening night for “Cagebirds.” “I hope the play will leave people in awe,” said Rose. “The play is so bizarre and creepy it might even, hopefully, almost disturb some people.” |
