LIHU‘E — What do talking Barbies, zombies, mind readers and capricious personalities have in common? They are all subjects of Kaua‘i Performing Arts Center’s production, “Two Chairs, a Table and a Sofa” — a collection of four original student plays
LIHU‘E — What do talking Barbies, zombies, mind readers and capricious personalities have in common? They are all subjects of Kaua‘i Performing Arts Center’s production, “Two Chairs, a Table and a Sofa” — a collection of four original student plays written, directed and acted by high school students. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10, plus 4 p.m. Dec. 11 at Children of the Land at the Kaua‘i Village in Kapa‘a. Admission is $5.
In addition, KPAC will present three middle school plays — “Pranking the Teacher,” “Caution: Politricks” and “Funsucker” — acted by students from Waimea Canyon, Kapa‘a and Chiefess Kamakahelei middle schools. Performances are 7 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday at Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students.
Since the beginning of the school year, students have participated in KPAC’s after-school program preparing for its annual showcase.
“They’ve put in a lot of hard work and they are excited to get to perform,” said Dennis McGraw, program director of KPAC. “The high school plays are all student-driven. … This is a good thing, because if we do have a budding playwright among us, it’s best to start them young, and all four plays are really good.”
About two dozen high school students will perform in “Two Chairs, a Table and a Sofa,” which includes the original plays “The Barbie Monologues,” “To Serve Your Fellow Man,” “Switching Hats” and “The Reader.”
Arnold Meister, founder of KPAC, has been overseeing the high school students, but has taken a back seat as the students have been staging the production.
“After we taught the basics of playwriting, directing and acting, the theater people took over from the day of auditions, and we have stepped back and let it happen,” Meister said.
The students learned to strike a balance between the writer’s vision and director’s execution, a challenge the group said members easily overcame.
“It’s different because I’m not in high school anymore,” said Richard Taken, who acts in “The Barbie Monologues.” “It’s interesting to work with such brilliant minds that are still in high school.”
The the plot of the plays stemmed from conversations the students had with each other, and began to take form during the first quarter of the semester as the students began writing and revising their drafts.
“It’s been positively epic,” said playwright Abby Delavega of the KPAC experience. “KPAC is a way to come out of your shell.”
Delavega’s classmates agreed with her assertion that KPAC students make friends for life.
“It’s definitely been amazing. It’s a great learning experience, and I think a lot of us grew from it,” added Rowan McGrath, who directs To Serve Your Fellow Man” and “Switching Hats.”
“You have people come in the door and leave a completely different person. It’s definitely a positive change,” he said.
The class also provides a safe and fun environment, said Bianca Wagner, who wrote “The Barbie Monologues.”
“Everyone drops their insecurities and becomes a family,” Wagner said.
The students agree that KPAC is an opportunity to gain confidence, become comfortable with who you are and build reading and communication skills, a sentiment echoed by Marc Sicignano, who directs “Pranking the Teacher” presented by Waimea Canyon Middle School students.
“One of the greatest things I hear is the feedback from teachers who say their (KPAC) students show improvement in the classroom,” Sicignano said. “We really work with everyone who wants to be a part of it. It’s a really accepting community and a great opportunity to meet friends, get on stage and try something new.”
The performances spanning the next two weekends are a chance for Kaua‘i theater goers to support the hard work of the students.
“It’s something that the public doesn’t get a lot, and the public should really see it.” Wagner said. “And it also feels good when people come to your show.”
• Andrea Frainier, lifestyle writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 257 or afrainier@ thegardenisland.com.
