KENNEDY COTTLE|OCTOBER 13, 2018|REVIEW

Salvation Road, a play written by D.W Gregory, was recently performed by the Stanton drama club. The play was directed by drama instructor Mr. Jeff Grove and performed on Sept. 27-29 in Stanton’s auditorium.

Kathleen Kelleher, Yearbook Photography Editor

Salvation Road tells the story of Denise Kozak, a girl who was roped into a religious cult at a moment of vulnerability. The cult requires her to renounce every “toxic” aspect of her life that kept her from becoming closer to God, including her family, friends, and past interests. Aided by his younger sister Jill, middle sibling Cliff, along with his best friend Brian, determinedly embark on an expedition to save Denise from a life she never asked for. Emotionally-driven Cliff and comical friend Brian encounter nuns, members of the “fellowship,” and other mysterious characters that provide clues to unlock the mystery at hand, and ultimately find Denise entangled in a plight beyond saving.

Main character Denise Kozak was played by senior Sara Branly, who did an excellent job of portraying a rebellious and politically-aware teen turned mute and conforming. It was obvious she was comfortable in the spotlight, as she never faltered on her lines and every movement seemed natural. Senior Brendan Murphy played the emotional role of Cliff Kozak and fit the character well. His facial expressions fit the mood of each scene, and his expertly delivered soliloquys appropriately convey his thoughts and emotions at the time. Brian Duffy, played by senior Bryce Williams, provided the comic relief for the play. His well-timed jokes and goofy smiles gave the audience a much-needed laugh after more serious scenes. These student actors did a marvelous job depicting their character’s personality and emotions in each scene, and left the audience impressed with their performance.

The majority of the performances were stellar, and the costumes, designed by senior Kristie Beeman, perfectly matched the personalities of each character. The hair and makeup of each actor was natural and not overdone, thanks to student makeup artists, seniors Nina Negron and Angelique Ayala. However, the stage was bare at times, causing the setting to be hard to follow. A few times during the play, the only prop on stage was a table, which was constructed by two stools and a plank of wood. While dynamic and easy to carry on and off stage, it did not provide a convincing appearance of a table. To transition between scenes, soft background music was played while the actors carried props on and off stage, which fit the mood of the play. In the transitions and other parts of the play where recorded sound was used, the music and effects were almost too soft, and glitched in places. Lastly, the lighting, managed by senior Quinn Conrad, was used to follow the characters around the stage. When one or two characters were on stage, a single spotlight or part of a stage light was used, and when three or more characters were present, the stage was completely lit up by the stage lights, set up behind the last row of seats.

Later in the school year, the Stanton drama club plans to present the annual One-Acts show and a musical which has not yet been revealed. In future productions, actors should carry the same degree of professionalism, and the behind-the-scenes crew should maintain their creative style. However, a more dynamic use of the space on stage, as well as a more interesting approach to the background music and sound would be nice addition.

Review: Salvation Road