STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
To be a true Actor, with a capital “A,” you have to perfect being “Startled Awake,” be able to think underwater and you need to be able to react appropriately when hit by a laser B.E.A.M.
That is according to The Morley Buck School of Serious Acting for Extraordinary Actors.
Acquaint yourself with the eccentric faculty at this unorthodox academy when the Wood River High School drama students present Patrick Green’s “Masterclasses.”
The students will present the show at 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, April 18-20 at the Wood River High School Performing Arts Theater on the Community Campus in Hailey. They also will present a show at 7 p.m. Friday, April 21, and at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 22.
Tickets are $5 at the door.
The one-hour, one-act comedy set in an acting school pokes a lot of fun at actors and directors as teachers entreat students to perform various exercises that are based on real exercises but very much twisted and exaggerated.
“The playwright plays with the stereotype of acting teachers who have complete power over their students,” added assistant director Cathy Reinheimer.
Asia Angel plays Morley Buck, the eccentric headmaster who concocts various shenanigans, such as sending students on a wild goose chase in search of a restroom.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Angel. “It’s a colorful play—something great to do after a long winter. What I like is that it’s just quite silly. and I like how the characters look so silly.”
Eva Hatzenbuehler plays three characters.
“I like that the script gives people free rein to improvise and do physical comedy,” she said. “Initially, audience members might think it a little stupid. But if you let yourself laugh, it can be hillarious. It’s a collage of crazy characters wearing crazy costumes—very expressive, super fun.”
The cast features Asia Angel, Elena Tamayo, Eva Hatzenbuehler, Aimsley Shearer, Adena Garrison, Isabella Keller, Sophia McKnight, Scout Kendall, Lydia McCauley, Aurora Widdison, Loula Christensen, Lyksi Aranda, Eddie Montes, Celeste Quispe Meza, Diana Gomez Cibrian, Hunter Ervin, Jaiman Sharp and Reese Herold.
The crew is comprised of Hunter Ervin, Trevor Ward, Jaiman Sharp and Reese Herold. Assisting Director Karl Nordstrom are Cathy Reinheimer, Christine Leslie and Hilarie Neely.