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Wednesday, December 10, 2008 Impressive stage, great costumes mark Valencia High production of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'The drama classroom at Valencia High School is abuzz with activity and the controlled chaos that marks the final week before the opening night of a major production. On Saturday afternoon, several dozen VHS students and community volunteers gathered at the school for a dress rehearsal of Charles Dicken's "A Christmas Carol." Cast members pull together costumes in various stages of readiness. There are capes with straight pins in the hem and dresses in need of finishing. Cratchit kids pair period shirts and vests with modern day track pants. Drama teacher and theater director Ignacio Sanchez deftly instructs cast members and crews on what is still left to be done. "It's always like this — it all looks like chaos and then, when the curtain goes up, it all comes together," he says with a nervous laugh.
"The Los Lunas High School band and drama teachers have been wonderful," Sanchez said. "They have been accommodating and helpful. And the Albuquerque High School drama department is helping us fill in with extra costumes and props." Sanchez, who has been involved in drama since college and has taught high school drama and speech in California and Belen, said the play was a team effort. "When it's all over we can all share in the success," he said. "This doesn't take any one person. It takes a huge number of people to pull off a production this size. I tell them when they watch a movie, to watch the credits and just read the names of all the people it took to make that movie." While dealing with the challenges of a new program at a new school, Sanchez said, he only has one goal for the holiday play. "I want to fill the auditorium," he said. "On opening night, I want them to peek through the curtains and see so many people their hearts race." And even though there is a bit of a steep learning curve, since all the drama students are learning how to manage different areas of the production, Sanchez said they all rose to the occasion. Every aspect of the play has been put into student hands — from the props and costumes, to the set, lighting, sound and blocking — Sanchez set them on their path and turned them loose. "That's part of my philosophy. I'm here to help, but they will benefit the most if the learn to do it themselves," he said. Keri Brewer, the mother of four cast members, attends almost every practice. Her oldest son, William, is the narrator. Her daughter, Lela, and sons Reddick and Burr are members of the Cratchit clan and carolers. "I come out to make sure Reddick and Burr don't run amok," Brewer said of the youngsters not yet old enough to attend VHS. "I think the kids are doing a good job. They are all in the learning stages; this is a young school, but it's coming together," Brewer said. "He (Sanchez) has the kids doing a lot of the work, but you have to let them be in charge eventually, scary as that is." Community volunteers Karl Deuble and Lily Diaz are the artists painting the unique set for the production. Each segment of the set's backdrop is actually three-sided. Each triangle is on casters so that the sections can be spun to the next scene. "They are kind of like those billboards," Sanchez said. "It's a different way. Instead of flying big flats in and out, we just rotate the pieces. The audience will see some of the transformations." And while Sanchez refers to them as "professional" artists, both laugh at the idea. "I just like to paint," Deuble said. "I have a fine arts degree from the University of New Mexico, but it's mostly a hobby. It doesn't pay the bills." As a long-time family friend of Sanchez, Deuble offered up his services when Sanchez said he needed someone to help paint. Diaz came on board because her younger brother Cesar built the sets. "I thought it would be fun," she said. "I'm not a professional; I've only had three semesters of art in high school." Whether or not they consider themselves to be professional or not, the sets for the play are coming together nicely - the inside of the Crachit's home and the streets of London are taking shape quickly. Deuble said one of the biggest challenges is the timeline. "We just started working on this last Monday," he said. "And making cohesive sketches, giving them dimension, that's a challenge." Another tricky aspect is making sure the triangular set pieces match up correctly when the spin to the next scene. "I saw his production of 'Check, Please' several years ago," Deuble said. "I know Ignacio's work, and this play is going to be amazing." And what is a play without all the little details that bring it to life? The props master and his two assistants not only have to keep track of close to 60 props, but they are also players in the production as well. Props master Paul Boyce plays young Scrooge, businessman No. 3 and dead Scrooge. "I'm going to rock that part," he adds. Greg Lindberg is props assistant No. 1, nephew Fred, an undertaker and trumpet player, while Richard Ruper is props assistant No. 2, business man No. 2 and 16-year-old Scrooge. Boyce says it is their job to find or build the props for the show. If that isn't an option, then they rely on begging and borrowing. The trio also has to inventory the props and make sure the actors have what they need for each scene. "We are taking care of approximately 60 props - everything from a four-poster bed to a key," Boyce said. "Props can be hats and canes, even though that might sound like wardrobe. You can push just about anything onto props." Boyce said he puts about 18 to 21 hours a week in working on the play, while Ruper and Lindberg estimated they spend about 12 hours a week on their various duties. Lindberg is also part of the live music ensemble that will be playing as part of the production to add to the atmosphere. Although he wasn't part of Sanchez's drama class nor in drama club, Boyce found himself a props master. "I've had like one class with him. He said 'you seem organized' and here I am," he said. Percussionist Jaime Duran and Eduardo Melendez, a trumpet player, found themselves pulled into the production as sound designers. "My girlfriend is in drama, and she talked me into helping, and I got Eduardo to help," Duran said. The two are in charge of the sound effects for the play as well as the music. While some of the music will be live, Duran said most of it is recorded. And even some of that is of their own production. "We recorded some of the tracks they sent us," Melendez said. Duran said they decided to reengineer some of the songs because "they were kind of cheesy." Duran went on to say that the sound effects are very life-like and that people will be impressed with the quality. Sanchez said there would be some surprise special effects during the play. "Some small babies might cry due to the intense sounds," he warned. "The content of the play is a very appropriate for young children, but some of the sound effects are going to be very intense, especially for the spirits." Drama club president Marteena Summerlin has found herself to be a "Jill-of-all-trades" during the high school's inaugural production. "I assist with the costuming, help with the props, help the actors with the interpretation of the script — a lot of different things," she said. "I'm a versatile person." Summerlin said working on this play is a natural progression of her interest in the theater. "When I was little, I would write stories and act them out with my friends," she said. "I have also taken some theater classes at the University of New Mexico." She went on to say that she thought the play would be a good production. "The less experienced actors have improved, and this is a good starting point for our program," she said. "We are very thankful for Los Lunas High School letting us use their auditorium." The character who is the center of all the drama of the Dickens play is Scrooge. He is portrayed by Spencer Creame. While he is a member of the drama club, Cerame says that theater is not his lifelong passion. "I know what I'm going to do with my life. I'm going to be an engineer of energetic materials, which is basically bombs," he said. "I like seeing things blow up." Cerame says the biggest challenge of being in the play is the lines. "First you have to learn them, then repeat them and repeat them and repeat them with feeling!" he says with a laugh.
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