Thespians head for 'South Pacific'

Sisters theatergoers can enjoy an enchanted evening with the Sisters High School musical theater class when students perform "South Pacific," Thursday through Sunday.

Tickets are available at the door and are $8 for adults and $5 for seniors and students with school ID. Performances begin at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the high school.

South Pacific features seniors Adam Cash and Beth Eckstine as Emile de Becque and Nellie Forbush, an older French plantation owner and a young Navy nurse from Arkansas who fall in love despite their age and cultural differences. Senior Trevor Condel and freshman Olivia Narro bring more romance to this World War II story, playing Lieutenant Joseph Cable and Liat, a native Tonkinese girl.

Rick Johnson, in his second year as choir teacher, directs the 56-member cast and crew.

Gary Bowne, Sisters High School drama teacher, served as co-director before being injured in a vehicle-bicycle accident on October 19.

Condel, who has performed in nine productions at Sisters High, said he has never played a romantic role before. It's also his first time singing in a lead role.

"I like the variety of plays we get to be in," he said. "I think between Mr. Johnson and Mr. Bowne and Ms. Summers (former high school choir teacher), we've gotten to have a good variety of choices from musicals to Shakespeare and murder mysteries. I like that they give us the freedom to do lots of options."

Condel is looking at attending Southern Oregon University next year to study theater and forensics.

Eckstine, who has been singing in Sisters choirs since elementary school, said this is her second time performing in a play.

"In real life, I'm ditsy already, so the part is the same as me," she said of Nellie, while trying on a gown for the performance.

Eckstine hopes to major in elementary education next year at the University of Oregon.

Cash has performed in six Sisters High School productions.

"The best part (of South Pacific) is the singing," he said. "The songs that my character has are really, really outstanding. That's what I'm most excited about, having a different aspect of my repertoire stand out. This is a good chance to show how I can sing."

Cash is looking at several schools to study theater, and hopes to get into a screen acting program.

Other students featured in the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical are senior Brett Pray as comic relief character Luther Billis, seniors Felicia Zandonatti and Ciara Affatati as Bloody Mary, and sophomores Keegin Kornowski and Joel Fisher as Commander William Harbison and Captain George Brackett.