Chattahoochee High School Thespians Take on Social Challenges

It’s always difficult selecting the right show to suit both a program’s needs while telling a story that will stay with the audience long after they leave the theatre. This year was no different for Ms. Haley Walter, the Drama Director at Chattahoochee High School. Last year, Ms. Walter had entered her students in the regional Georgia State High School Association (GHSA) One Act competition portraying a complex play written by Lanie Robertson and set in the 18th century (The Insanity of Mary Girard). Her students were very inspired by the issues of mental health and spousal abuse portrayed in the play and went on to win Chattahoochee’s first region award in its school history and placed fourth in state competition.

In choosing Lanford Wilson’s The Rimers of Eldrich for this year’s One Act Play entry for GHSA competition entry, she believes she has once again found a play with a profound message that warrants further audience reflection. “From childhood”, Ms Walter stated, “we are taught to not judge a book by its cover.” Yet over the years this message “often seems to be trivialized by the phrase becoming just another euphemism." Ms. Walter suggests not only are children often judgmental over outward appearance, but adults as well.

Rimers tells the story of how an innocent person in a decaying American town that has lost its economic vitality, is punished for a crime they didn’t commit largely based on how they look. More than once characters claim that they are not judging the actions of others, but clearly that is not the case. The heavy candy coating of the rime frost covers a meanness of spirit in the town; underneath the appearance of seemingly all-American values is a corruption that leads to violence. If you’re looking for light-hearted theatrical frolic, this is not that play.

Ms. Walters knew with several returning advanced actors from last year’s award winning competition including Garrett Butler, Jacqueline Brooks and Kayleigh Cook, she had to once again raise the bar. In addition to the message of the play, “this play is special to me because I played Cora Graves, the owner of the town café in college”, and she now looks forward to see how her own students take on this level of acting intensity. The play is deliberately disjointed, and gives the student actors many opportunities to learn with parts that require different interpretations and character ages.

While written in 1967 at a volatile time in US history and societal attempts to face the issues of discrimination, 50 plus years later “we still turn on the news and see innocent people being persecuted simply for how they look, act, and/or where they rank in society", Ms. Walter points out. Yet despite the mature and difficult themes explored in the play, Ms. Walter is positive that her students and their generation “have the ability to create change, and I hope that telling this story is just one step in that direction."

Ms. Walter is also proud to offer patrons an additional play during the event with the opening One Act play, Kirsten Greenidge’s Milk Like Sugar, directed by student Danaja Ellerby. While in years past the opening student play was typically a light hearted comedy, Ellerby wanted to raise the bar for the non-competition play performance as well. By choosing this play to direct, she and the student performers will tackle difficult topics such as teenage pregnancy, mental health, and the consequences of ignorance. Ms. Ellerby dedicates the directing performance to her mother who has invested and supported her to reach for the stars, dream, and to believe in herself.

The community is invited to attend the public showing of both plays prior to the region competition at the school October 18th-20th. The performances start at 7:00 p.m. nightly, tickets may be purchased for $10 at the door. There is an intermission between the two plays. Patrons are invited to bring a donation to support the Chattahoochee Thespian Troupe’s support of the Drake House, information which can be found at https://thedrakehouse.org/. Please note, mature audience themes are portrayed in both play performances.