David & Lisa
at Santa Margarita Catholic

Reviewed on October 26, 2018

Sofia Migliaccio
Mission Viejo
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Santa Margarita melts hearts with "David and Lisa"
written by Sofia Migliaccio, a junior at Mission Viejo High School

The actors and crew in "David and Lisa" at Santa Margarita Catholic create a striking performance combining beautiful acting with the chilling subject matter of mental illness in the 1960's.

The story follows 16-year-old David (Garrett Webb) through his transition of living at The Berkeley School. Through difficulty and support from his new friend Lisa (Kennedy Kemmerer), David adjusts to his living situation, embracing the melting pot of people he gets to encounter.

David always makes his presence known in a room with swift and precise movements, always accompanied by a stern face. Webb's stiff stature coupled with generally expressionless lines gives off an indifferent attitude. He speaks quickly, sure of every word he says. When David is with Lisa, however, walls break down as his voice softens and shoulders slump.

Lisa melts hearts with her beaming smile and bright eyes, constantly skipping around as she spits out rhymes. This sweet girl fades away when Kemmerer scrunches up her face and cries out, fighting the transition to a new personality. Once Muriel, she skulks about the stage with her head low and eyes glaring. She grows stiff and a bit vengeful as she scribbles on paper to communicate as Muriel.

Dr. Ellen Swinford (Ella Lao) steps in as the maternal figure of the show, taking care of students like her own. Her soft, yet professional presence does wonders breaking down walls with David. She visibly yearns for a relationship with David, carefully asking him questions and avoiding being too eager. A heartwarming voice combined with her comforting ways really enable the students to grow.

Great performances came from many of the other students at The Berkeley School. Sydney Stone as Sandra keeps up a sweet and juvenile demeanor, much like that of Lisa's. Lily Scannell as Kate struts about the stage, exuding confidence as she flips her ponytail around.

The lighting design by Olivia Pannell masterfully reflects the action onstage. Red patterns dance around during transitions, giving off an eerie feeling and pulling the audience back into the seriousness of the show. Washes of light shining through a clock shaped cutout in the background to pull in the mechanical feeling of the way David's mind operates.

Spectacular performing and striking technical aspects make "David and Lisa" a stunning show, tastefully displaying the difficulties mental illness can place on adolescents.

Cameron Newman
San Juan Hills
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

SMC's "David and Lisa" presents a timely look at teen mental health
written by Cameron Newman, a junior at San Juan Hills High School

A boy obsessed with clocks and mortality. A girl who speaks in rhymes or not at all. A horde of psychologists, idiosyncratic students, and a "loony bin". This peculiar premise forms the heart of Santa Margarita Catholic's "David and Lisa".

Set in 1962, this play tells the story of David Clemens, an adolescent genius sent to an institution due to recurring nightmares and an intense fear of physical contact, and the girl he befriends there, Lisa Brandt, who suffers from split personality disorder. With guidance from the school's team of professionals, they both journey toward recovery.

Garrett Webb brilliantly embodies the quirks of David. Stiff and laconic, he strides about with the discipline of a drill sergeant. When agitated, he becomes tenser still, trembling, fidgeting with his suit, and staring coldly into the distance. However, this aloof demeanor belies the protective affinity David feels for Lisa, as he risks a physical confrontation to stop a stranger from picking on her.

Kennedy Kemmerer's Lisa bursts with childlike buoyancy, hopping, skipping, and rhyming. Later though, her distress becomes palpable as she rakes her fingers through her wild hair, shoulders heaving and shaking. Then, like Jekyll and Hyde, she transforms with one deep breath into her silent alter ego Muriel, who, with a menacing gaze and calculated movements, backs touch-averse David into a corner.

The eccentric ensemble of patients at The Berkeley School includes standouts such as audacious and flirtatious Kate (Lily Scannell), rebellious cynic Josette (Alex Roges), and suave but delusional Carlos (Octi Roges). In addition, Ella Lao gives a dignified turn as Dr. Swinford, her discerning, measured manner exuding a quiet confidence.

From the proscenium adorned with giant gears to ticking and chimes during scene transitions, tech embraces the metaphor of clocks for the human mind and integrates it into every aspect of design. Designers Remy Beauchamp and Taylor Gamble incorporate a timepiece into each costume, and Ella Lao displays deconstructed pocket watches on tickets. Makena Horn's stage management is superb, with sound effects like knocking and glass shattering timed so well, one forgets the actors aren't creating them.

This moving and honest story of hope, healing, and humanity remains as relevant today as it was 50 years ago, and SMC's sensitive and thoughtful production gives it due respect through the splendid work of its cast, crew, and designers.

Brenna Martinez
Capistrano Valley
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

Santa Margarita Catholic's David and Lisa truly clicks

Filled with distinct characters all dealing with their own set of mental illnesses, David and Lisa follows two young teens who struggle with the several challenges that come with being mentally ill. David, a teen with OCD is sent to a boarding school in order to improve his condition. Here, he takes an interest to Lisa, a young girl diagnosed with Dissociative Personality Disorder. Throughout the show, the two form a strong relationship with each other that helps them both understand how they can each overcome their illnesses.

Set in the early 60s, Santa Margarita Catholic High School makes sure to stay true to this time period through their hair, makeup, and costume choices. Every student is dressed in a pastel color appropriate for the time period, each of their colors representing the mental illness that the character is living with. Adults are dressed in darker colors with a smart hairstyle to match, which helps to properly depict the older age of these characters. It is clear that crew heads Remy Beauchamp (costumes) and Natalie Mitchell (hair and makeup) did their research of 60s style in order to design each character with a look that would suit their age and personality while still remaining appropriate for the time period.

Technical elements aside, SM also proves their strength through their actors. A great example of an actress who pays attention to detail, Ella Lao makes very specific choices to effortlessly portray the poised character of Dr. Ellen Swinford. From the confident posture Lao exhibits to even the way she sits upright and attentive in a chair, Lao excellently portrays a character of older age. Although she appears very poised, Lao also adds a soft side to her character as well. The intent facial expressions Lao gives while listening to her patients speak of their problems indicate that her character truly does care about the kids she works with. Lao as an actress has an incredible focus that also appears in her character, which makes her as Dr. Swinford always seem truly present in every scene.

Evident in the technical and acting choices made, SM Catholic truly pays attention to each and every detail of their production to create a beautiful show full of well thought out symbols, and to create a show full of meaning.