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Afraid of the Dark: Beyond the Stage

By Limey Chhor

At the beginning of the semester, pages were laid neatly into tiny piles on the wooden table near the Singapore Room. Dalat students, ranging from freshmen to seniors, auditioned for a play they would later come to know as Afraid of the Dark by James Reach. 

Throughout the three performances, the audience witnessed the sweet love of the newly-wed Chauncey, played by Michael Silverstein (11) and Lilum, played by Olive Berends (9). The romantic and quiet honeymoon that Lilum expects comes crashing down with the thundering voice of General Lee, played by Gabriel Roylance (11) and his sidekick, Gridley, played by Jun Sheng Leow (12). Despite the craziness of the tenants, Lilum insisted on staying, only to regret her decision when the big reveal that they had been caught in the middle of an extensive espionage unfolded in the Third Act. Each performance keeps the audience on the edge of their seat and ends with roaring applause from the audience. 

Dalat Drama Production extends beyond the three performances offered near the end of each semester. For over four months, Miss Geiman and Mrs. Ho directed the drama kids to project their voices, practice significant expressions and gestures, and pull everyone together to put on amazing shows for the Dalat Community. Even though a few cast members were sick, the Lord put His hand on them and gave them the strength to finish strong. 

Although Afraid of the Dark ended, the friendships formed during short and long rehearsals persisted. Jun Sheng Leow (12) noted that his favorite part of tech week was “the fact that all of us (drama actors and crew) worked together to make the production a success from scratch multiple times.”

Many drama kids decided to join Dalat Drama Production again next semester. They may not know what the next play will be, but they are sure they will have more fun together.

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