Four Corners Upper School Drama Appreciation Club just finished their run-through of this year’s fall play, HOLES. Did the standout actors and actresses save the production?  

Thursday, November 7th, I went to the Four Corners Lower School, where the FCUS Drama Appreciation Club puts on its productions, to see this year’s fall play, HOLES. Among the iffy lighting, makeshift props, and staticky microphones, there were good scenes, moments that made me laugh, and a group of standout actors and actresses.  

HOLES follows the story of Stanley Yelnats, a teenage boy who is sent to Camp Green Lake for a crime he did not commit. At the camp, boys like Zero, played by Camila Nunez, X-Ray, played by Michael Gardieff, and Armpit, played by Jordin Navedo, are forced to dig holes in the dried-up lakebed by the mysterious Warden, who is actually searching for hidden treasure. Through flashbacks, we learn about Stanley’s ancestor, Elya Yelnats, and the outlaw Kissin’ Kate Barlow, whose buried treasure ties the past to the present. Stanley and Zero eventually uncover the treasure and bring justice to the camp.  

The lead of the show, Stanley, played by Kaiya Matlock did surprisingly well given her age. At only 12 years old, Matlock was in almost every scene and never forgot a line. Matlock has been in 2 other FCUS Drama Appreciation Club productions but, this was her first lead. Another standout actress within the Camp Green Lake group was Alyssa Santiago who played Magnet. Santiago stood out with her sassy one-liners throughout the night, causing me to laugh a few times.   

Now when it came to the Camp staff, there was a wide variety of talent. Anastasia Jacobsen, who played the Warden, was able to play a mean and sneaky character despite this being her first time in that type of role. Jacobsen had previously been in two other FCUS Drama Appreciation Club productions. She played Elf/Travel Song Puppeteer in Shrek the Musical, and Other Princess One, in Game of Tiaras. The Warden has two main staff members in this play, including Mr. Sir, played by Andy Torres. Torres played the character wonderfully. The other staff member, Mr. Pendanski, was played by Kristopher Lacombe. Lacombe stood out throughout the play. Lacombe’s acting was great, and he was able to show several sides to his character. He looked sure of himself and did not mess up once.   

Another standout actress was Romina Capriles who played Myra, the girl Elya Yelnats, played by Frank Champion, was in love with. When it came time for Capriles to perform her scene, she executed the role of the ditzy girl incredibly. With only one scene in the show, she was a face you remembered. Now a voice that you remembered after the show was Mei Bates, who played Madame Zeroni/Judge. In her role as Madame Zeroni, she was the first to sing “If Only, If Only.” Her voice exceeded my expectations and became the most memorable of the renditions.  

Even with all these standout actors, the most memorable scene of the play had to be the scene where Kate Barlow, played by Daliana Perry, and Sam, played by Adrian Kentish, share a kiss. In this scene, Barlow, the schoolteacher, and Sam, the onion seller, develop a close relationship as Sam helps repair the schoolhouse. One evening, after finishing the repairs the two share a kiss. The audience went wild, wooing and cheering, bringing even more life to the scene.   

Now while the cast did a good job with their performance, the disappointment lies with the school’s equipment. The microphones were staticky, and you could hear the actors every time they breathed. Sometimes the microphones would even go out momentarily. Yet when that would happen, the actors would carry on making sure to project their voices. Additionally, the lights flickered at the beginning of the show leaving me worried. At the start of the show the Director, Julie Gardieff, even joked around warning about the old lights and how they are working their hardest with them. Luckily nothing happened and the lights ran smoothly under the Spotlight Operator, Zia Crane. The play also included makeshift props including a cardboard canoe that fell upside down and got in the way of the scene.  However, even with all these obstacles, Gardieff and Benjamin Pratt, the assistant director, were still able to put on a smooth-running, fun production.   

Now, even with the standout actors and actresses, the great ensemble, and the awesome behind-the-scenes crew, the hero of the show has to be 12-year-old, Angelina Santiago who played Zigzag/The Toughest Kid in Camp/Zeros Mother. Santiago was originally only cast as Zero’s mother. Unfortunately, the actor who was originally playing The Toughest Kid in Camp pulled out and she took over that part as well. Three days before the show was about to go on the original actor playing Zigzag, a lead part in the show, had a family emergency and ended up having to leave the show. Santiago learned all of Zigzag’s lines, markings, and cues, pulling the role together in a very short amount of time. Santiago did a good job in all three of her roles and was truly the hero of the entire show.   

The FCUS Drama Appreciation Club will put on Fiddler on the Roof as their spring musical. Make sure you do not miss it!