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The Edmonton Journal is proud to host reviews of local high school theatrical productions, written by student reviewers through the Alberta Youth Theatre Collective. Reviews of past shows can be found here
By Chelsea Bell
Louis St. Laurent High School
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Holy Trinity High School’s production of Elsewhere was one big fever dream. Elsewhere is a play by Don Zolidis, which tells the story of four teenage girls who break into one of their former headmaster’s houses, abandoned decades ago and assumed haunted after his son disappeared. Instead, the girls find a doorway to another world: Elsewhere. It is a realm of pure imagination, but the longer they stay in Elsewhere, the more it seems there’s something not quite right. The four friends must journey through their darkest nightmares as they delve deeper into Elsewhere. The show inspires us with the transformative power of friendship and found family, the power of imagination and the importance of facing our fears. It reminds us to appreciate the real world despite its challenges.
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The four leading ladies were the haunted Ariel, played by Sofia Gomez; the loyal Sylvia, played by Karla Mena-Ospina; the fearless Jenna, played by Dania Bell; and the dark-minded Viola, played by Daria Igumnova. These four talented actors all excelled in this performance. Gomez, Mena-Ospina, Bell, and Igumnova were perfectly cast with a witty comedy and an emotional performance. They all delivered a captivating performance from beginning to end and always succeeded in holding the audience’s attention. Other cast members who caught my eye and performed exceptionally were the lovable Jacob, played by Abdoul Conteh; the comedic Steven O’Malley, played by Alan Goslin-Lopez; the rockstar Amber Phoenix, played by Kamilla Herrera-Bustamante; the narcissistic Mr. Bear, played by Tristan Kenny; the magical Unicorn, played by Brian Goslin-Lopez; the creepy Teeth Goblin, played by Therese Cabie; the cutesy Cub, played by Zoey Popert, and the feminist Viola, Queen of the Fairies, played by Halle Sigurdson. All these brilliant and talented actors brought the show to life enthusiastically and with liveliness.
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This show’s attention to detail within scenes and character-building was impressive. The show would never have been able to perform without their astonishing ensemble, who added such a liveness to each scene. It is also worth noting this production’s amazing stage crew. The lighting design by Ryan Holden, words cannot describe how amazing it was. The lighting truly added so much character and eeriness to the show. The fifteen-person make-up team did a fantastic job with each character, especially for the Clockmaker. My favourite moments in the show included the gift-giving scene, the tooth fairy scene, Frostbringer’s entrance including the two guitar players Sean Aquino and Kit Villanueva, Amber Phoenix’s song, Jacob and Unicorn’s secret handshake, the Unicorn Song, and the fairies dance routine. These moments impacted the show and made it entertaining to watch.
This team brought the show together through every minor detail and comedic point. With the ensemble, cast, and, most importantly, the crew, you can see the effort they put into this show. Their commitment is inspiring, and this company perfectly represented the true meaning of Elsewhere.
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By TJ Fougere
Victoria School of the Arts
“Don’t say nightmare!” is what will burn into the back of your mind after witnessing the sci-fi horror-esque dramedy put on by the amazingly skillful and talented students of Holy Trinity High School. Elsewhere is a tale about four adventurous students, fueled by curiosity for the mysterious. The students venture to an abandoned boarding school in New Hampshire, rumoured to be haunted by the ghost of the headmaster’s missing and assumed dead son. The horrific hauntings lead the young teens to be ensnared, lost in the labyrinth of Elsewhere, where they must face their own warped and grotesque childhood trauma, hopefully not losing themselves on the way out.
A huge standout for me is the chemistry between all of the actors, especially our four protagonists, Sofia Gomez as Ariel, Karla Mena-Ospina as Sylvia, Dania Bell as Jenna, and Daria Igumnova as Vi. They all masterfully portrayed natural and realistic conversations throughout their performance. Gomez, in particular, brought great duality to her performance of Ariel, keeping people on the edge of their seats. Mena-Ospina made an excellent effort to build strong emotions into Sylvia’s character, having extremely dramatic outbursts that blew away the audience. Bell carried the personality of a kid who was shaped by neglectful parents with such sincerity and care that made you feel for the character of Jenna. Igumnova had the witty and sophisticated high schooler down flat without overdoing it, being a standout in every scene they were in, no matter how scary they may be. However, the breathtaking performances go far past the circle of friends, like the goofy boyfriend of Vi, Jacob, played by Abdoul Conteh, who brought a bit of innocence to the show and made the audience crack up throughout.
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Additionally, some of the fun things I loved with this show were the surprising musical numbers that lifted this great show into something extremely special when Metalicusc & Shredicus played by Sean Aquino and Kit Villanueva ran off the stage shredding on a guitar while the FrostBringer played by Arriane Nox Buensalida sung on vocals. Also, Kamilla Herrera-Bustamante who played Amber Phoenix got their solo song that left the audience roaring with applause.
But a show is nothing without the crew; Elsewhere’s crew built an amazing set with stunning light design done by Ryan Holden. The lighting was able to build strong emotions during the show using simple but effective lighting techniques that supported the actors to give a brilliant performance. On top of Elsewhere’s magical lights and set, the actors had an amazing fifteen-person makeup team that did stunning and complex makeup on many characters throughout the show like the horrific Teeth Goblins that had amazingly grotesque designs.
Overall, Elsewhere, put on by the students of Holy Trinity, is a mesmerizing show with love and care poured into it, leaving a long-lasting impression that lingers with you long after the final curtain falls.
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By Kaylee Karpinski
Louis St. Laurent High School
I’d like to start off by saying that I think I’ve stepped into my own alternate universe because Holy Trinity’s High School production of Elsewhere felt surreal and mind-bending in the most hilarious way. This show created a mind-blowing and breathtaking atmosphere that captured the audience’s attention every second. We were reminded of our daydreams and nightmares, creating a special and unforgettable experience from when the curtain opened to when it closed.
The story follows four close friends, Ariel, Sylvia, Jenna, and Vi, on a mission to spend a full day in an abandoned house of a man and his missing son. After accidentally getting transported to an alternate universe, Elsewhere, and being instructed to kill the Frostbringer and free the Amber Phoenix, they are taken through each other’s suffering and trauma where we meet The Clockmaker, who offers Ariel the choice to stay in Elsewhere or leave. They complete their task and get sent home only to realize they have no memory of their entire night and Ariel is missing. They retrace their steps, along with Vi’s boyfriend, Jacob, and slowly get their memories back before finding Ariel.
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Since the start of the show, the cast had us locked in and when the clock struck eleven, we weren’t just watching a show, we were all in Elsewhere, wondering what was going to happen next. The four girls, Ariel, played by Sofia Gomez, Sylvia, played by Karla Mena-Ospina, Jenna, played by Dania Bell, and Vi, played by Daria Igumnova, were all cast perfectly and all played their parts as if they were made for that role. Their line delivery was so organic and original, even saying how many of the lines were improvised to add to the experience of the show, especially Mena-Ospina’s and Gomez’s roles who embodied their characters with such passion and emotion that it made the entire audience on the edge of their seats. All of the characters created depth to their roles and made this performance ridiculously bright and also suspenseful and chilling, truly a memorable and impressive cast. Not to mention the striking work of light manager, Ryan Holden, who figured out the secret of painting nightmares and dreams onto the stage. The extensive makeup crew were all intricate and perfectly applying looks to everyone’s face, adding to the life-like experience of Elsewhere.
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The entire show made everyone want more, from when the first line was delivered to when everyone was crying by the end. The cast, crew, line delivery were perfectly working together and made this show absolutely haunting and loveable in all the best ways. Holy Trinity created a play to remember and definitely made me want to wonder what they’re doing next.
By Samrta Sabharwal
Victoria School of the Arts
Holy Trinity Catholic High School’s production of Elsewhere is an unforgettable show that delves into themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of growing up and changing. The show is comedic with serious undertones and is very surprising and interactive. It’s all these attributes that make Elsewhere the kind of show that will linger in your mind for days.
Elsewhere is a play that was originally written by Don Zolidis. The play itself centres around the four main characters; Vi, Ariel, Jenna, and Sylvia. The girls plan to stay in a haunted house for 24 hours, but while they’re there they unexpectedly travel to Elsewhere. A realm with imagination and nightmares. The girls must go on a quest, overcoming their childhood traumas, to save the Amber Phoenix who is imprisoned by the evil Frostbringer.
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One of the most memorable aspects of the show was the satirical comedy. Characters like Sylvia (played by Karla Mena-Ospina), Jacob (played by Abdoul Conteh), and Steven O’Mally (played by Alan Goslin-Lopez) left me in tears from laughing. Another highlight of the show was how well the actors managed to portray the complicated feelings of their characters. Sofia Gomez (Ariel), Dania Bell(Jenna), Daria Igumnova (Vi), and Karla Mena-Ospina (Sylvia) did wonderful jobs showcasing the sadness, panic, sorrow, pain and annoyance that the characters felt.
Additionally, a big feature of the play is the unexpected twists. When we are first introduced to the Frostbringer (played by Arriane Nox Buensalida), we are hot with a musical number that features the electric guitar (played by Sean Aquino and Kit Villanueva). In another musical number, we were introduced to Amber Phoenix(played by Kamilla Herrera-Bustamante). Hearing them both sing was quite a pleasant surprise.
Besides the acting and singing, there were many technical aspects that helped bring the show to life. The sound, by Niamoro Amores, and the lighting, by Ryan Holden, were done in an incredible way and made it seem like the characters were actually in an alternate reality. Moreover, the costume design, by Savanah Warry and Elizabeth Bird, was also immaculate with features that brought the scenes and characters to life.
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Overall, Holy Trinity’s production of Elsewhere was an unforgettable experience that was brought to life by the amazing hard work of the cast and crew. The show is wonderfully comedic while also showcasing the hardships of growing up and changing.
By Kanaiza Malala
St. Joseph High School
Teenagehood can be defined by three things: fun, friendship, and a feeling of impending doom. While that might have been a bit of a stretch, it’s safe to say that most teens, when facing any level of difficulty, simply wish they were elsewhere! And for a small price, you can join them elsewhere at Holy Trinity High School.
Don Zolidis’s two-act play was published fairly recently, so this dramedy does not act like teen culture plateaued in the 80s. Sylvia, Jenna, and Ariel all attend a boarding school in New Hampshire, where the former headmaster’s son went missing. They decide to explore his abandoned home and stumble upon a portal to another realm: the realm of elsewhere. Within this realm, these four friends face a multitude of situations, including the big questions facing most teenagers: “What does time mean to you?” and “What do you love most?” A hilarious and self-aware show with fourth-wall-breaking moments like “suck it up and do it for the plot,” this show has something for everyone, allowing older audiences to connect with Gen Z-esque humour.
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When it comes to teenagehood, this play truly covers it all: colour-coded outfits, a sick electric guitar solo by Kit Villanueva as (and I quote) Shredicus, or the “it” factor performance as Sylvia by Karla Mena-Ospina. Playing the role of the wholehearted best friend, her tone and visual cues make her scenes raw and authentic to that of an adolescent girl. Leaving the theatre, it was hard to believe she wasn’t Sylvia after all.
The hypnotic allure of elsewhere is rich in visual depth, thanks to light designer Ryan Holden. The vivid blues and purples, coupled with sound, wash over the stage, acting as a harbinger of the plot. The transitions and set changes were flawless; the darkness on stage blended into the black walls of the space, allowing the audience to disconnect from what was happening on stage. Actors embodied their characters thanks to the fifteen-person makeup crew. Whether it’s a green wrinkle or frostbite blues, looks are thoroughly executed. However, the fantastical nature of this show was brought together by the props: fake teeth, swords, blood, and, you guessed it, a rock!
Overall, the entire crew did an excellent job worthy of the standing ovation it received. A raw performance enhanced by the skilled crew, with a unique storytelling approach that can be best described as “chaotic good.” It was a blast to watch, feel, and experience!
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