Exit the Body
at San Juan Hills

Reviewed on November 6, 2015

Taylor Plett
SOCSA Dana Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Mystery behind closed doors at San Juan Hills

Taylor Plett is a Senior at SOCSA Dana Hills

Nameless bodies in the closet, midnight sneaks and spies in disguise – when it comes to crime, diamonds are a mystery's best friend.

Riddled with masked figures, criminal antics and rollicking fun, San Juan Hills presents the faux-murder mystery sendup "Exit the Body" as an energetic slam-door comedy.

When successful novelist Crane Hammond (Rachel Sandefur) retires her pen for a week of relaxation in the country, a lifeless body in her closet opens the door to a string of uncanny events surrounding the search for a lost set of diamonds, ultimately unmasking the "quiet country folk" as far from who they seem.

Crane (Rachel Sandefur) faces each shocking twist in the tale with stoic maturity. Her well-bred background is evident in her poise as she perches upon the sofa, ankles crossed, logically working through the kinks in the mystery as seen through a trained novelist's eye.

Crane's secretary, Kate (Anna Moneymaker), maintains a brassy New York accent as she drawls lines dripping in dry humor, her expert comedic timing displayed each time she releases a cackled guffaw or shoots a scrutinizing look at the object of her suspicion.

The audaciously wealthy Lillian (Gabrielle Heckler) and her French lover, Lyle (Christian Waizinger), whisper sappy nothings to each other amid the chaos, wrapped in both fervent passion and expensive getups. Waizinger maintains a glossy French accent whether murmuring flatteries to his darling Lillian or shrieking at the meeting of dark figures in the night.

But it's old Vernon Cookley (Braeden Schmitt) who steals the show as he fulfills his duty, though sluggishly, as the town driver-sheriff-dog-catcher. Schmitt caricatures declining age as he shuffles across stage, shoulders hunched, and barks gruff commands through his protruding lower lip.

Praise is also due to Kylie Gerlach for her masterful prop design; a bounty of trays and dishes rush in and out of the kitchen at each mealtime, while company is entertained by the spout of drinks from the tinkling crystal carafes at the bar. Lighting design (Jakob Salviati and Grayson Brengle) catches the stage in a web of flashlight beams as shadows creep through darkened doorways.

San Juan Hills' "Exit the Body" presents this criminal comedy with fervor and expertise, proving that, with a glitzy bit of bait on the line, one must keep his wits about him or find himself at death's door.

Taylor Plett
SOCSA Dana Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Mystery behind closed doors at San Juan Hills

Taylor Plett is a Senior at SOCSA Dana Hills

Nameless bodies in the closet, midnight sneaks and spies in disguise – when it comes to crime, diamonds are a mystery's best friend.

Riddled with masked figures, criminal antics and rollicking fun, San Juan Hills presents the faux-murder mystery sendup "Exit the Body" as an energetic slam-door comedy.

When successful novelist Crane Hammond (Rachel Sandefur) retires her pen for a week of relaxation in the country, a lifeless body in her closet opens the door to a string of uncanny events surrounding the search for a lost set of diamonds, ultimately unmasking the "quiet country folk" as far from who they seem.

Crane (Rachel Sandefur) faces each shocking twist in the tale with stoic maturity. Her well-bred background is evident in her poise as she perches upon the sofa, ankles crossed, logically working through the kinks in the mystery as seen through a trained novelist's eye.

Crane's secretary, Kate (Anna Moneymaker), maintains a brassy New York accent as she drawls lines dripping in dry humor, her expert comedic timing displayed each time she releases a cackled guffaw or shoots a scrutinizing look at the object of her suspicion.

The audaciously wealthy Lillian (Gabrielle Heckler) and her French lover, Lyle (Christian Waizinger), whisper sappy nothings to each other amid the chaos, wrapped in both fervent passion and expensive getups. Waizinger maintains a glossy French accent whether murmuring flatteries to his darling Lillian or shrieking at the meeting of dark figures in the night.

But it's old Vernon Cookley (Braeden Schmitt) who steals the show as he fulfills his duty, though sluggishly, as the town driver-sheriff-dog-catcher. Schmitt caricatures declining age as he shuffles across stage, shoulders hunched, and barks gruff commands through his protruding lower lip.

Praise is also due to Kylie Gerlach for her masterful prop design; a bounty of trays and dishes rush in and out of the kitchen at each mealtime, while company is entertained by the spout of drinks from the tinkling crystal carafes at the bar. Lighting design (Jakob Salviati and Grayson Brengle) catches the stage in a web of flashlight beams as shadows creep through darkened doorways.

San Juan Hills' "Exit the Body" presents this criminal comedy with fervor and expertise, proving that, with a glitzy bit of bait on the line, one must keep his wits about him or find himself at death's door.

Jessy Nelson
Laguna Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Register

San Juan Hills Kills It

Jessy Nelson is a Junior at Laguna Hills High School


Set in the 1960s in New England, San Juan Hills High School takes on the three act play, "Exit the Body". The modern and comedic take of a classic farce follows a writer and her assistant as they take a vacation in the country, but what they find in their vacation home is anything but relaxing.

Rachel Sandefur as Crane Hammond expresses her character's maturity, as well as creativity, through her strong voice, whimsical attitude, and overall graceful presentation. Sandefur continues throughout the show with the held posture of a celebrity only to collapse of exhaustion when alone with her assistant. Although some characters' lines were muffled or rushed, other characters such as Sandefur have consistent accents and very clear diction.

Another strong character is Kate Bixley (Anna Moneymaker). Moneymaker flourishes in scenes with a set glare and constant sarcasm. Moneymaker continues to show her cranky attitude and dislike for the quaint town she's been dragged to, with frumpy posture and persistent drinking.

Lyle Rogers (Christian Waizinger), a French man, brings the classic part of the "lover" into the show. Waizinger expresses his character in a comedic display with growling and draping himself over his wife, as well as skillfully switching between French and American accents. Another standout character is Vernon Cookley (Braeden Schmitt) who plays an elderly man with a range of humor, using quirks such as quavering lips and shaking as he holds cups.

The technical aspects overall contribute greatly to the story, capturing the time period and mood. Lighting, done by Jakob Salviati and Grayson Brengle, is blended nicely to match the lighting in a real house. The techniques used, such as spot-lighting a lamp to illuminate the stage, contribute beautifully to the presentation. Costumes, executed by Julia Gordon, create realistic and time appropriate designs for characters, using fur on wealthier characters and patterns, like gingham, on country natives. The hair/makeup by Rose Krol adds immensely to the characters, mirroring personality with details such as the uses of dark eye makeup for darker characters and bright pink eye shadow on the obnoxious landlord. The hair crew makes an excellent use of wigs, neatly kept, the hair pieces help to complete the 60s feel.

The cast and crew of San Juan Hills give a new look on a mystery, leaving the audience "dying" of laughter.

Jessy Nelson
Laguna Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Register

San Juan Hills Kills It

Jessy Nelson is a Junior at Laguna Hills High School


Set in the 1960s in New England, San Juan Hills High School takes on the three act play, "Exit the Body". The modern and comedic take of a classic farce follows a writer and her assistant as they take a vacation in the country, but what they find in their vacation home is anything but relaxing.

Rachel Sandefur as Crane Hammond expresses her character's maturity, as well as creativity, through her strong voice, whimsical attitude, and overall graceful presentation. Sandefur continues throughout the show with the held posture of a celebrity only to collapse of exhaustion when alone with her assistant. Although some characters' lines were muffled or rushed, other characters such as Sandefur have consistent accents and very clear diction.

Another strong character is Kate Bixley (Anna Moneymaker). Moneymaker flourishes in scenes with a set glare and constant sarcasm. Moneymaker continues to show her cranky attitude and dislike for the quaint town she's been dragged to, with frumpy posture and persistent drinking.

Lyle Rogers (Christian Waizinger), a French man, brings the classic part of the "lover" into the show. Waizinger expresses his character in a comedic display with growling and draping himself over his wife, as well as skillfully switching between French and American accents. Another standout character is Vernon Cookley (Braeden Schmitt) who plays an elderly man with a range of humor, using quirks such as quavering lips and shaking as he holds cups.

The technical aspects overall contribute greatly to the story, capturing the time period and mood. Lighting, done by Jakob Salviati and Grayson Brengle, is blended nicely to match the lighting in a real house. The techniques used, such as spot-lighting a lamp to illuminate the stage, contribute beautifully to the presentation. Costumes, executed by Julia Gordon, create realistic and time appropriate designs for characters, using fur on wealthier characters and patterns, like gingham, on country natives. The hair/makeup by Rose Krol adds immensely to the characters, mirroring personality with details such as the uses of dark eye makeup for darker characters and bright pink eye shadow on the obnoxious landlord. The hair crew makes an excellent use of wigs, neatly kept, the hair pieces help to complete the 60s feel.

The cast and crew of San Juan Hills give a new look on a mystery, leaving the audience "dying" of laughter.

Alexander Trevisan
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

San Juan's "Exit the Body" escapes the grind

Alexander Trevisan is junior at Tesoro High School

It's a seemingly average day as an illustrious author and her secretary arrive at their vacation home in the countryside. They enter the cottage and begin to get settled, unaware of the schemes being plotted around them. Housing a pair of bandits, a duo of kooky townspeople, and a couple of overly amorous elites, the cottage soon becomes home to a murder mystery and a search for hidden diamonds.

San Juan Hills' production of "Exit the Body" both entertains and intrigues as a wide array of eccentric personalities roams through the house, each with their own plans to get to the treasure lurking within.

With a mid-Atlantic accent and smooth struts, Rachel Sandefur emits an aura of confidence and professionalism as Crane Hammond. Sandefur adds humor to the scene as she dramatically drops to the floor, fainting in shock at the sight of a dead body. Her sweeping gestures and smooth strides across stage quickly turn into clipped flails and nervous paces from side to side, mirroring her progressing nerves.

Anna Moneymaker plays the sassy and skeptical Kate Bixley, secretary to Mrs. Hammond. Cackling at her own cynical jokes, Moneymaker delivers a hilarious performance as the stereotypical New York city-dweller. Drink in hand, she sits with crossed legs and a cocked eyebrow in her recliner while she listens to the unrealistic tale of a dead man recounted by Mrs. Hammond, the murder mystery writer.

Christian Waizinger, playing the eccentric and passionate Lyle Rogers, adds to the show with his exaggerated movements and numerous voices. Parading around stage, Waizinger captures the suave attitude of his romantic character. As his character is forced into covering for the missing Mr. Hammond, Waizinger flawlessly flips from Lyle's fluid French accent into a stereotypical American-man dialect.

Lighting, designed by Jakob Salviati and Grayson Brengle, adds a layer of refinement to the show. Towards the beginning, the lights are bright and clear to add to what seems to be a normal vacation. At night, the moon shines and onstage lamps are turned on and off by the actors. As each bulb flickers, so does each corresponding set of stage lights, casting an eerily dim glow to the scene.

Filled with humorous characters, absurd situations, and unexpected plot twists, San Juan Hills captivates with their rendition of "Exit the Body."

Alexander Trevisan
Tesoro
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook

San Juan's "Exit the Body" escapes the grind

Alexander Trevisan is junior at Tesoro High School

It's a seemingly average day as an illustrious author and her secretary arrive at their vacation home in the countryside. They enter the cottage and begin to get settled, unaware of the schemes being plotted around them. Housing a pair of bandits, a duo of kooky townspeople, and a couple of overly amorous elites, the cottage soon becomes home to a murder mystery and a search for hidden diamonds.

San Juan Hills' production of "Exit the Body" both entertains and intrigues as a wide array of eccentric personalities roams through the house, each with their own plans to get to the treasure lurking within.

With a mid-Atlantic accent and smooth struts, Rachel Sandefur emits an aura of confidence and professionalism as Crane Hammond. Sandefur adds humor to the scene as she dramatically drops to the floor, fainting in shock at the sight of a dead body. Her sweeping gestures and smooth strides across stage quickly turn into clipped flails and nervous paces from side to side, mirroring her progressing nerves.

Anna Moneymaker plays the sassy and skeptical Kate Bixley, secretary to Mrs. Hammond. Cackling at her own cynical jokes, Moneymaker delivers a hilarious performance as the stereotypical New York city-dweller. Drink in hand, she sits with crossed legs and a cocked eyebrow in her recliner while she listens to the unrealistic tale of a dead man recounted by Mrs. Hammond, the murder mystery writer.

Christian Waizinger, playing the eccentric and passionate Lyle Rogers, adds to the show with his exaggerated movements and numerous voices. Parading around stage, Waizinger captures the suave attitude of his romantic character. As his character is forced into covering for the missing Mr. Hammond, Waizinger flawlessly flips from Lyle's fluid French accent into a stereotypical American-man dialect.

Lighting, designed by Jakob Salviati and Grayson Brengle, adds a layer of refinement to the show. Towards the beginning, the lights are bright and clear to add to what seems to be a normal vacation. At night, the moon shines and onstage lamps are turned on and off by the actors. As each bulb flickers, so does each corresponding set of stage lights, casting an eerily dim glow to the scene.

Filled with humorous characters, absurd situations, and unexpected plot twists, San Juan Hills captivates with their rendition of "Exit the Body."