Group Interpretation and Contest Play Performs at Sectionals

By Tyler DeVault, OHS Torch Reporter

                The OHS Group Interpretation, Edward Scissorhands, and Contest Play, Steel Magnolias, performed at Charleston High School on March 20th for IHSA Sectional Competition.

                At the Sectional, seven contest plays and six group interpretations were entered. Each production performs for a set of judges and is given a rank. These ranks determine what place each production will receive. Top three group interpretation productions will go on to state competition and top two contest play productions advance. The Group Interpretation placed 6th and the Contest play placed 5th.

                Also, cast members can be nominated to the All-Sectional Cast. The Group Interpretation had two members nominated; David Bell and Lauren Horner. The Contest play had three members nominated; Delia Kerr-Dennhardt, Sarah Marsiglio, and Savannah King.

                "The Group Interpretation did wonderfully. They were on the spot with characters and got laughs at the appropriate times. I was really impressed with the amount of hard work that they did in a short amount of time," said director, and OHS speech coach, Sarah Hughes.

                The same was felt about the contest play. "I felt that the play was a great success.  They actors did a phenomenal job bringing the characters to life, and emotions seemed to be felt from the audience near the end of the play when M'Lynn, the mother whose daughter passes away, was grieving her daughter's passing.  There were many tears from audience members during M'Lynn's final monologue." said Contest Play director, and OMS English teacher, Alex Hembra.  

                What makes this competition so difficult is that each production is so subjective. This means that it is difficult to predict what the actual outcome is. "Charleston was a tough competitor because they have a high reputation of success in the past," said Hughes.

                This was Mrs. Hembra's first time directing Contest Play. As an assistant speech coach last year, she assisted with the tech crew in last year's production. "As a new director I learned a whole lot about what I will do in the future and what I will never do again. I believe that I will direct Contest Play again and I have learned a lot from this production that I can use next year," said Hembra.

                Hughes and Hembra both enjoyed working with great casts and had fun doing it. Hughes would like to thank Holly Haines for being the assistant director for Group Interpretation. They both look forward to next year's production.