One Act take existential train trip to State competition
The One Act company kept its theatrical train on the ‘Tracks' all the way to its ultimate destination: the State Championship. Written and published by Peter Tarsi, the play has strong thematic differences when compared to last year's 'One Stoplight Town'. It follows 10 strangers, from across the world, who all randomly appear at a subway station. With secrets to hide, they try to learn more about each other and come to the realization that they're all dead. The looming question being: are they going to heaven… or hell?
Seniors Lara Funnel, Hadley Ruetten, and Julian Dedow were hungry for a chance to make it back after their last state-bound performance, ‘Our Place,’ during their freshman years. Funnel feels a sense of satisfaction and deja vu qualifying for state for the second time.
“To be able to say that I was able to go to state one last time, especially with Hadley, it brings me back to old times,” she said.
Funnel plays the role of a high school girl about to head off to college, one who struggles between moving on in her life and breaking her boyfriend’s heart. Moving on is an arc present in all of the character’s stories as they process through baggage; baggage that is physically represented in their respective props. Embodying each character's respective personality was a struggle for some.
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced is going up there and trying to be a character,” Funnel said.” A high school girl is obviously what I am, so I tried to think of a way to transform myself into my character, but keep who I am as well. I just try to build up a backstory and to try to transform myself into someone new.”
Junior Angelina Vu’s character, the lawyer, carries her briefcase with her that represents both her career and its successes and failures. She’s a perfectionist with high standards, both for herself and those around her.
“Everyone’s wondering why she’s so judgmental and then it’s revealed that she lost this really big case and she feels responsible for the potential harm that may happen as a result,” she said. “She’s so judgmental of everyone else because she’s so judgmental of herself.”
Freshman Michael Smithson played a character with a very unfortunate backstory.
“I play ‘high school boy,’” he said. “Me and my girlfriend were on a date until my emergency brake started acting up in my car. I don't really care about it, and it ends up backfiring on me when the car gets hit by a sudden rainstorm. The brakes give out and the car slides down the hill and kills us both.”
Junior Marcus Miller plays, yet again, a character from the older generation.
“I play the old man,” he said. “He was a Korean War veteran who sustained everlasting effects from the war. Now, he’s suffering from cancer, which is impacting both his mental and physical health.”
The plot of ‘Tracks’ is very character-driven, placing pressure on the actors to push themselves with their roles, in focus, authenticity, and connection. Without powerful characterization, the cast and crew wouldn’t have made it to state, but director Scott Thurwatcher was proud of the cast’s ability to pull this off.
“Everyone is really locked into who these characters are and people are noticing that,” he said. “I think that's the buzz out there, and it's not just me. Everyone that sees the play talks about how, individually, these characters are coming together, they are believable and authentic, that's all I ever ask.”
Since plays lack a musical's usual pizazz of song and dance, the cast is especially important.
“This is almost like you’re baring your soul,” Thurwatcher said. “It really becomes your job to convey the author's intent and the emotions of that character, and it's almost like standing up there naked. It's so much harder because you have so much to convey without the bells and whistles and you have to be honest in your attempt so the audience really knows what's going on. I think the hardest thing about the regular plays is it really requires you to dive in and understand who your character absolutely is.”
‘Tracks’ is different from your typical sing-song musicals or lighter comic fare. Its most unusual factors include the lack of set-changes. This is a double-edged sword, giving the actors time to dig into their character but prolonging the intensity.
“You’re in the same place for so long that you have to create a character and be someone, but you have to stay there the entire time, and not break that character,” Funnel said.
For Thurwatcher, focus is the most important factor to maintaining composure.
“At this point, it’s literally a matter of everyone being completely focused on their individual character and who they really are,” he said. “While also knowing where that character is at every single moment and how they would react in specific situations. I think we overcome it when everyone is focused exactly on where they are, what they're doing, and what their character is thinking and reacting to what's going on around them. Awareness and focus is what I yell about most of the time.”
Even with a lack of set-changes, the stage crew isn’t off the hook. Focus is just as important for them as it is for the cast.
“We have a dedicated stage crew, they work really hard to put everything on stage as quickly as possible so that we have more time to develop a story,” Vu said.
Even the smallest hiccup could mess up the performance, the biggest problem area being the walls and attention to detail.
“We have to work very fast, we have a very short time limit,” sophomore and assistant stage manager Mike Kerkof said. “Although we didn't do much during this play, we were still really hands-on with the set pieces. We had to make the walls by hand and a lot of our options were out of our price range, so we had to be very creative in making all of their designs.”
Despite the challenges they face, One Act is a great way to open up doors socially. For Smithson, meeting everyone was the highlight of it all.
“Honestly one of my favorite parts is everyone else that's in it,” he said. “They’re great and just some of the coolest people I've met.”
Vu enjoys the new group of people she has gotten to know over the process.
“I love the community aspect, and I've gotten closer with a lot of my castmates,” she said. “It’s such a small cast, so we’ve gotten to know each other really well. I’ve also loved the ability to work on my acting and learn more as an actor in general.”
Funnel has found a sense of community with the group. This sentiment is strong within these plays, particularly due to the smaller cast, and long hours spent together.
“I love being a part of the One Act because of all the people I meet,” she said. “The rehearsals might be long, and things might be tough, but the fact that you can walk up to these people and joke around with them is just amazing.”
This tight-knit relationship between the cast and crew only aided them as they made their way to perform at state.
"They ran out after the performance and they all had the biggest smiles on their faces,” Thurwatcher said. “I've never seen them so happy.”’
Being in Whitewater with the other schools allowed the One Act cast the opportunity to connect with other performers.
“All the people here think the same way, we’re theater kids, we’re all big, theatrical, and extra, for some reason,” Miller said. “It’s just nice to be in the same kind of mindset with everyone around us.”
Thurwatcher would like to share the entrancing performances the cast gives with others.
“I think we all need to start coming together and support one another and be open to new things and celebrating success and the talents we have,” Thurwatcher said. “The things I always heard when we put on the shows for classes and the student body is that they are always blown away by the talent that we have here in this school that no one knows of.”
Funnel has struggled in the past with the environment of competitive activity.
“It takes commitment, showing that you’re responsible, reliable, and not only that you have talent, but you’re able to take criticism,” Funnel said. “When you take that criticism you’re able to build up your character and yourself, you’re building up the play.”
At state, the group was awarded the technical award and ensemble for their effective storytelling.
"When the play was finished the audience didn't just clap, they screamed," Thurwatcher said.
‘Tracks’ took its final bow at the state stage. However, for Vu and the others, this will be a lasting memory of their hard work, dedication, and unique friendships.
“We have such a dedicated cast that has worked so hard, and it’s come to be such an amazing and beautiful thing that I’m just so excited to share it with other people.”
by Len Kloss and Addi Isely
Published November 28, 2022
Oshkosh West Index Volume 119 Issue III