From left, Ariana Isbell (’16), Ashley Leal (’16), and Mackenzie Kohanek (’17) rehearse for ‘Arsenic and Old Lace.’ Photo by Claire Pritchardby Claire Pritchard, News Editor
This winter, Fountain Valley High School Theatre brought Cristain Guerrero, a guest director, into their production of “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
Guerrero graduated from Chapman University this spring with a BA in Screen Acting and applied to direct at FVHS when a Chapman alumni told him about the opportunity.
“It sounded like so much fun- so I submitted my application and the rest is history!” said Guerrero.
The play itself also interested Guerrero, who loves the style and specificity of a period performance.
“I love period pieces- especially the early forties- which is when Arsenic and Old Lace originally premiered on Broadway…It’s a lot of fun to work on Arsenic and Old Lace because it’s nostalgic, it’s a very specific style of theatre- it’s different than a lot of contemporary theatre.”
The rehearsal process intimidated Guerrero at first, but the cast members’ welcoming attitude calmed his nerves.
“It’s like the first day of school. ‘Are the kids going to like me?’ But that all went away on the first rehearsal when I met the cast- they were so welcoming, friendly, and ready to work,” said Guerrero. “It’s been a pleasure and I’m thankful they’ve allowed me to work with them.”
Despite the cast’s dedication and Guerrero’s determination, the production has faced difficulties that come along with a period piece.
“Three act plays aren’t typical these days- so I would say it took awhile for the actors to get the stamina needed to sustain during run throughs,” Guerrero stated. “Also- since it’s from the late thirties/early forties- the characters speak much differently than people do today. So it also took us a while to get accustomed to the language and the specific comedy that suited the style of the play.”
Guerrero is sure that once the cast gets in front of an audience, the hard work they have put into the play will pay off.
“I’m excited for the cast to get an audience in the room! They’ve been working so hard. It’s a comedy- and comedies need an energetic audience’s laughter to carry it through. I think people are really going to enjoy this show.”
“Arsenic and Old Lace” opens on January 12, 2016 and runs through January 15, 2016 at Ocean View High School.
