‘Tongues’ leaves bittersweet taste

The theatre department presented its one-act play on Saturday, Feb 20 at Lake Braddock High School in the Regional one-act competition. After winning second place only to Stonebridge High School against eight other high school teams in Districts, the group performed a modified version of ?Tongues? by Sam Shepard.

?[?Tongues?] is not really plot driven,? senior Meara O?Malley, the assistant director, said. ?It?s more of a [dark] col- lection of monologues that are more theme oriented.? While at regionals, O?Malley and freshman Sarah Chapin were nominated for Best Actress and senior Robin Crigler was also nominated for Best Actor. Senior Mace Smith won an Honorable Mention for Best Actor.

?It was very gratifying to see that many individuals recognized, because it was truly an ensemble piece without a main character,? theatre teacher Trena Weiss-Null said.

The group ?ended up getting fifth place and that?s too bad,? O?Malley said, ?but [going to States] would have meant that it would have been a lot more work.?

?It?s bittersweet because I would have [loved] to go to farther and compete more, but that would have taken a lot of time and energy,? Smith said. ?The competition that we saw was very good. The plays that did go on to States were very qualified.?