Winter One Acts

Sibley’s student-written and directed One Acts took place January 24, 25 and 26. This year’s shows were bold in their attempt to tackle some difficult issues (the ethical responsibility of causing people to die without knowing it, dying from HIV / AIDS complications, media manipulation of the public) while also being light enough to enjoy as a high school production.

The first piece was Jack Schuleman’s The Switch, in which the main character, Violet, moves into an apartment, where the seemingly normal light switches are on the floor. One of them appears to do nothing, but the reality is that each time this “do-nothing” switch is “switched,” somebody dies in another part of the world. Letters stream in from all of over the world, speaking of the death of their loved ones. Violet goes crazy trying to unravel the mystery until it is revealed that a close friend of Violet’s was behind the scheme the entire time.

Stranded, by Jill Sutherland, dealt with high school students who were on a field trip, only to discover things they never knew about themselves or each other. They seem at first to confirm stereotypes – the science nerd who is socially awkward, the jock, the goth, the nature freak, and the princess. However, throughout their forced time together, they discover that you can’t

assume you know everything about someone from the outside.

Emma Alley’s Just One Day dealt with the very serious topic of AIDS / HIV. In the play, Brandon Krisko plays Sam, a wheelchair-bound young boy dying from AIDS complications in a hospital. His nurse, Christy, wants to take him out for a special day, given that he will be dying soon. While out they encounter ignorance and intolerance, but still return to the hospital happy about the day they had. As far as subject matter goes, this was the most difficult of the plays, but it was actually presented in a light-hearted way that made it less “sad” and more sympathetic.

The last of the plays was Sandy Meirovitz’s An Unappeeling Truth, about a “scientific” study that shows that bananas have DNA, and therefore are human beings. Once it becomes well known, the public is convinced that society must respect banana equality and cease eating them. Local reporter Peter Baggins, played by Billy Gleason, doesn’t believe it for a minute, and seeks to bring back some sanity to a public that has gone mad.

Overall, these plays were very interesting and dealt with tricky and difficult issues.

Congratulations to the writers, directors, actors and techies on an outstanding program!

Tags: henry happenings, music and arts, sibleyscribe