Beyond the Lights
at Laguna Hills

Reviewed on November 10, 2018

Emily Boyer
Mission Viejo
Submitted for publication to OC Register

Laguna Hills High School's "Beyond the Lights" Shines Bright
written by Emily Boyer, a senior at Mission Viejo High School

Telling the tale of the struggles of living a life of fame, Laguna Hills High School explores the importance of staying true to yourself in their charming production of "Beyond the Lights."

Taking place in the vibrant core of Hollywood, a stuck-up actress who seems to have everything she could ever want meets a laid-back local musician who does not know her name. Little do they know when they first meet that they will teach one another about the realities of life and all that it has to offer.

Emma Star, the sensational actress that is living the Hollywood dream, is portrayed admirably by Julia Cornell. Cornell demands her space with a bold stride and confident posture, promptly claiming and embracing her fame. Right off the bat, she comes off as stuck-up and entitled, but through Cornell's vulnerable breakdowns the audience discovers that she never desired the life in the spotlight. Cornell's usual annoyed mannerisms and obvious carelessness shift to an intrigued tone in both her voice and body once she meets the mystery man in the elevator.

Ryan, portrayed by Seth Whiteaker, enters with a laid-back and nonchalant walk, and rolls his eyes at Cornell's obnoxious phone conversation as he quickly exits the elevator. But as he begins to be sucked up into the life of fame, Whiteaker crosses his arms, buries his head into his phone, and uses a much more aggressive vocal tone, showing the negative effects that the fame has had on him.

Emma's personal assistant, Sophia (Maya Romero), is a vibrant outsider to the Hollywood norm. Romero's quick and peppy step creates an image of youthful determination and excitement. This is a delightful contrast to Emma's constant aggravation with her surroundings.

As the show travels through a series of fast-paced events, the Deck Crew never fails to swiftly shift sets during transitions. With a total of twenty-four set changes, the crew promptly transitions the large sets from one setting to the next. With Hannah Cole and Atzin Gallardo as co-stage managers calling cues, their execution and timing was perfect all around.

Leaving their audience with a happy ending and the reminder to always stick to the path that is best for yourself, Laguna Hills tells a dazzling story of love and self-discovery.

Shane Shamas
Mission Viejo
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

To start off this year with a dash of creativity, Laguna Hills High School has decided to perform "Beyond the Lights" a play, written by one of their Hawks, Chloe Lukas. Her story is about a Hollywood actress, Emma Star (Julia Cornell) and a struggling musician, Ryan (Seth Whiteaker), working together to fix their careers. Together, they come to terms that you shouldn't let other people change you for the worse, which is a theme expressed through the effective acting, sounds, and lighting.

The audience is first introduced to Emma Star, her arrogant attitude emanating through her sassy swaying, cross-legged sitting, and high hands. When she berates Ryan for leaving the elevator early, she does not hesitate, cuttingly interrupting anything he says, looking away as if he is nothing to her. However, as a complex character, she yells at her former Hollywood director with a louder call of desperation. Her assistant, Sophia, played by Maya Romero, on the other hand, has a more wide-eyed attitude, staying uncomfortably close to her shoulder, bouncing up and down with a sweet sense of innocence. She may express loyalty, but she has her own identity, often hesitating when assigned a bizarre task such as faking a British accent to get coffee, something that Maya Romero nails through an exaggeration of tone as well.

To make all of these interactions with Sophia, Emma, and Ryan flow, there needed to be a strong ensemble and crew to keep the show sustained. Fortunately, every ensemble member had an active presence, talking as if their silent conversations kept them in keen interest through the slight shake of their drinks and never breaking their focus. Lukas's Hollywood vision is full of rich snobs instead of only having one rich snob, especially in the party scene, where the ensemble gathers to joke in a somewhat condescending tone and haughtily laugh together when discussing Emma's failures. Another efficient addition to the show's participants is the crew, moving set pieces for over 20 scene transitions with ease. There isn't a point where patience is tested, no matter how many tables have to be set.

The original script of "Beyond the Lights", which was first a screenplay, gave the actors of Laguna Hills High School a new experience that allowed them to work with the author, collectively facing all challenges. Through their performance, Lukas's Hollywood story was finally brought to the spotlight.

Anika Perera
Aliso Niguel
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

Laguna Hills captivates with ‘Beyond the Lights'

When a young, self-involved actress and a stubborn musician have a chance encounter on an elevator, their clashing personalities bring out the best and worst in each other as they learn and grow. Laguna Hills High School's production of "Beyond the Lights" by student Chloe Lukas, shares the importance of staying true to yourself. Lukas' play is captivating and heart warming. Her characters are lovable but flawed; we watch as they learn and resolve their flaws, creating a delightful story.

Julia Cornell wonderfully portrays the bratty Emma Star. Snarky and commanding, Cornell struts through every room with her head held high making sure to skip eye contact with irrelevant people. Cornell's intensity through scenes keep the show moving as we never know where her temper will lead to next. Cornell especially shines when she confronts her first director for leaving her in the dust after introducing her to a world of fame and fortune. Screaming through her tears, Cornell shows her vulnerable side as her fake wall crumbles.

Keeping the show grounded is Maya Romero as Sophia, Emma Star's new assistant. Romero's sweet and perky personality nicely contrast the brass Emma Star. She skips across stage encountering each abrasive Hollywood producer with a smile and a sense of naiveté. Her optimistic view of the world helps to bring Emma back to her old self.

The ensemble for this production is lively and entertaining. One bright spot is J.P. Van Dam. Whether he is fanboying over Emma Star or portraying the overdramatic Cyborg Romeo, Van Dam is enchanting to watch. His high energy and ability to commit to every character make for a memorable performance.

Accompanying this brilliant cast is a talented production team. The LHHS deck crew perfectly executes over 25 set changes. The stage transforms from one location to the next smoothly and efficiently.

The stage managers Hannah Cole and Atzin Gallardo precisely call each cue. Their accuracy is especially noticeable when it comes to phone calls. With the help of the sound team, Una Ahac, Kevin Gramling, and Ryan Patterson, Cole and Gallardo call for the ringtones to be turned off as the phones were picked up by the actors.

Altogether, the cast and crew of "Beyond the Lights" puts together a spectacular production that exemplifies how rewarding it is to be yourself and be genuine to others around you.