Go Ask Alice
at Dominion High School

Reviewed on December 7, 2013

Emilia Brennan
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

A perilous trip. A girl named Alice. Sounds like a story we've heard before. And it is, but this is not a journey to Wonderland, and our Alice will not resurface. Dominion High School's Go Ask Alice chronicles the story of a girl we all know: the girl who went a little too far.

Derived from the 1971 novel by Frank Shiraz depicting a teenage girl's descent into addiction, it is still uncertain whether Go Ask Alice stands as a work of fiction or a genuine diary. No matter the origin, the story recounted in both the novel and stage adaptation is one of distressing reality. Initially capturing the fears of coming of age, Go Ask Alice quickly spirals into a harrowing observation of substance abuse. Presented in distinct, time lapsed scenes, the show's erratic style parallels the experiences of an individual under the influence.

Ashlyn Rock's portrayal of Alice was one of incredible dynamics. Arching from an innocent and insecure fifteen year old to a cynical runaway and back again, Rock kept the core of Alice's character constant even as her life changed radically. Rock showed incredible maturity on stage during scenes where Alice was "tripping", effectively instilling horror and unease in the audience while maintaining sensitivity to such a serious topic.

Annie Begley was double cast as Alice's mother, and also major antagonist, Jan. To successfully portray such polarized characters is an extraordinary testament to Begley's skills. While impressive in both roles, Begley's performance as Alice's mother shone. A sophomore, Begley captured age appropriate mannerisms, and in the scene where Alice was discovered dead, Begley's reactions were as chilling as they were realistic.

Other standout cast members included Chris (Stephanie Whitehouse) who was Alice's only true friend, but also the influence that sent her deeper into addiction. Whitehouse displayed visible strife in a character who knew she'd taken the wrong path, noting "it's not the drugs; it's the people you get mixed up with." Alice's sisters, Tiffany and Alexandria (Samantha Farmer, Emily Lambert) provided innocent and heartbreaking perceptions of Alice's journey. Successfully tapping into younger ages, both sisters demonstrated character development as their naiveté was shattered by their older sister's transformation.

While some cast members struggled to find dimension in their roles, the essence of the story was delivered effectively. The show was uncomfortable and distressing to watch, not because of a poor performance, but rather the prevailing topic at hand. The technical decisions added to the general atmosphere of the show—psychedelic lighting during scenes where characters were on a high initially reflected the fun and excitement. As the highs became scarier, however, the rainbow cyc lights became a juxtaposition to the terrifying situation. During an impromptu black out, cast members remained professional and collected and resumed without disruption.

"If it feels good—do it". Watching Dominion's Go Ask Alice did not feel "good", but perhaps it had to be done anyway. Applying the appropriate gravity to substance abuse is something refreshing in a world so desensitized to the dangers close at hand. This was a play riddled with desperation and desolation. This was a play that magnified the pain of adolescence, and the extreme consequences that can come from trying to simply belong. Just go ask Alice.

Katherine McCool
South Lakes High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

Being a teenager is difficult. The pressure to balance a social life and acceptable grades is only intensified with the arrival of inescapable hormones. Dominion High School's production of Go Ask Alice disclosed the heart-wrenching story of a girl who wanted more than anything to fit in.

Adapted from an anonymous diary written in the 1970s, Go Ask Alice is a play by Frank Shiras that narrates the problematic teenage years of Alice Aberdeen. Alice's desire to have a thrilling and exotic life draws her toward a damaging typhoon of drugs, violence, and abusive friendships. Addiction tears Alice from her former lifestyle and presents the mortifying effects that can be placed on a previously peaceful family.

The cast of Go Ask Alice displayed an impressive range of emotions, effectively balancing the sentimental theme of the play while allowing moments of comedy to cast a ray of light on the stage. Ashlyn Rock, in the role of Alice, grew and developed in her emotions as Alice transformed from a melodramatic teenager to a substance-obsessed young woman. Annie Begley impressively performed in the roles of both Mother and Jan. Begley contrasted the two extremely diverse roles expertly and created an extraordinarily conceivable mother figure. Acting as the concerned parent of an addict is an entirely foreign situation to high-school performers, yet Begley executed the role with adroit and credibility.

Jan and Jill, Alice's delinquent friends, energized the stage with their spiteful words and malicious intents. Kathryn Allen (Jill) established herself as the meanest of the posse and maintained a malevolent demeanor throughout the play. Annie Begley (Jan) made dramatic changes to her other motherly character and mutated into a wicked, drug-dealing hoodlum. Alice's nerdy post-addiction boyfriend George (Andrew Guevara) provided the otherwise melancholic play with a welcome dose of positivity and laughter. Guevera epitomized the classic "four-eyes" as he waddled on stage with suspenders and a nasally tone. Though interactions between actors were sometimes awkward, the characters communicated well at climactic moments.

The psychedelic stage of Go Ask Alice reflected the musical and physical themes of the 1970s. A kaleidoscopic cyc light projected multicolored swirls that reflected the distorted views of the characters while they were under the influence of drugs. Popular music from the 1970s played between scenes and during parties; the songs efficiently corresponded to the varying tones of the play. Additional well-timed doorbells boosted the realism of onstage events. The actors impressively handled a power outage that halted onstage motion. The lights returned after a brief time and the actors resumed the scene as if the play had never stopped.

Go Ask Alice presented emotional difficulties that the cast and crew overcame with laudable effort. Dominion High School presented the play with passion and sentiment and conveyed the melancholic story of Alice beautifully.

Rebecca Frank
TC Williams
Submitted for publication to ShowBizRadio.net

Lava lamps, Beatles posters, psychedelic lights, and hallucinatory drugs…Go Ask Alice is a play reminiscent of the 1960s and 70s. Such was the case in Dominion High School's production of this show, one dealing with adolescent struggles and drug abuse.

Based on the popular novel published in 1971 the play Go Ask Alice, written by Frank Shiraz, details the tragic story of a teenage girl, Alice, who gets mixed up in the drug scene and must face the dire consequences of it for the rest of her life. Not an easy show for any group to undertake, Dominion High School's cast of Go Ask Alice tackled the show with commitment and earnestness.

Ashlyn Rock (Alice) played the lead convincingly, effectively transitioning from an unsure, impressionable teenager, to a girl completely under the influence of drugs, to a more regretful, older teenage Alice. An especially notable scene was her last, accidental LSD high, where she believes she is covered in worms. Ashlyn Rock's dedication and energy in this scene made it quite believable.

A standout was Annie Begley, who played her two roles, Alice's Mother and the drug using Jan, admirably. She was able to make these two unique characters distinct with her different physicality and nuances for each. As Jan, she showed complete commitment to a cunning drug abuser, and as Alice's Mother, she managed to convincingly play the character's age and attitude with poise. Her expression of grief at the end of the show was especially well done through her disbelief and shrill voice.

Other featured actors were Stephanie Whitehouse (Chris) and Kathryn Allen (Jill). Stephanie Whitehouse's portrayal of Alice's best friend Chris was genuine and nuanced, showing a believable friendship between the two. Kathryn Allen's rendering of the nasty and manipulative Jill was also quite authentic, and her commitment to her full character was strong throughout.

The show's well-decorated set of Alice's room effectively added to the production. Lighting changes from a simple blue cyclorama to the rainbow psychedelic background while the characters were high was a good touch as well. Though some blackouts in between scenes were a little lengthy, the music that played during them was an enjoyable feature of the production. There was one unfortunate blackout in the middle of a scene; however, the cast did an impressive job of seamlessly picking up where they left off.

Dominion High School's production of Go Ask Alice had some moving moments, such as scenes showing the sisterly bond between Alice and her younger siblings, Alexandria (Emily Lambert) and Tiffany (Samantha Farmer). Though some moments of tension fell a little flat, the cast showed commitment to its characters and the show, and kept up energy throughout.

In Dominion High School's production of Go Ask Alice, the cast undertook a challenging show with poise and vigor. Tackling such sensitive subject matter is no easy task, and Dominion High School did a commendable job with their production of Go Ask Alice.

Eni Oyeleye
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Loudoun

Commitment to character, appropriate handling of mature content, and impeccable diction all contributed to the profound effect of Dominion High School's production of the difficult to tackle Go Ask Alice. This gripping piece explores the themes of drug abuse, mental illness, and family predicaments through the lens of a teenage girl named Alice.

Originally a book written in 1971 by "Anonymous", who was later revealed to be Beatrice Sparks, "Go Ask Alice" was also adapted into a TV Movie in 1973. Dominion High School presented the play adaption written by Frank Siras.

Every lead and supporting actor excelled in their commitment to characterization. The audience could tell that acting choices were well thought out. The play is a tough challenge to take on, and Dominion High School did a laudable job. It would have been easy for the cast to drown in a sea of such weighty issues, but the production successfully stayed afloat. Another commendable aspect was the steady pacing of the show. Given that the show was set in largely the same room, the pacing could have lagged, but did not.

Ashlyn Rock faced the arduous task of playing a character with as much emotional depth as Alice, and she did so admirably. Alice had to form relationships with most of the other people in the cast, and she forged these relationships effectively. After a first act that is significantly calmer for her character, Ashlyn did a great job taking the audience through her rocky journey in the second act. In addition, Alice was in an intoxicated state much of the show, and the contrast between this and her sober state was clearly defined.

Annie Begley and Geoffrey Macrae portrayed Alice's Mother and Father, respectively. As some of the only adult characters in the show, they were entirely believable as people of a different age than themselves. Geoffrey created a lovable, if somewhat quirky character, who provided moments of comedic relief, but also matched the more intense moments with appropriate emotion. Annie had all the characteristics of a loving, caring mother. One of her stand out moments was her heart-breaking reaction to her daughter's still, lifeless body at the conclusion of the show. One notable fact was that both Begley and Macrae also portrayed other characters. They managed to create completely different characterizations with different speech patterns and mannerisms.

Despite some minor technical hiccups: some sound cues were off just a bit and the costumes were not period in some instances, the small cast of 16 was clearly dedicated to the production, and their hard work certainly paid off.

Written in the 1970s, through Go Ask Alice we recognize how certain issues- drug addiction, depression, family struggles, and coming of age - are a timeless reminder of how imperfect we are as humans. And yet there is something beautiful and perfect in that imperfection. Dominion High School's production of Go Ask Alice left a sizable impression on the audience, as it would 30 years ago, as well as 30 years from now.