Front
at San Juan Hills

Reviewed on November 3, 2018

Sophia Burick
San Clemente
Submitted for publication to OC Register

San Juan Hills High School's "Front" finds humanity in the monstrosity of war
written by Sophia Burick, a junior at San Clemente High School

History often hails the brave British soldiers of World War II, defending the honor of their country and facing brutal combat with determination and grit. However, San Juan Hills High School's Front explores an aspect of this story not often considered: the horrors of the home front.

"Front" follows a group of British women and children as they watch their husbands leave to fight the Germans. With the life they knew blown to pieces, these women search for hope and purpose in the rubble of wartime London.

Judith (Claire Sandefur) is a mother of two children, left by her husband Frank (Chris Lemus) when he is shipped off to combat. As she finds herself alone in an increasingly chaotic world, Judith struggles to balance her support of her country with her resentment of all the war has taken from her. Sandefur's incredible performance brilliantly reveals Judith's internal conflict through her uneasy, tense tone and brief but longing glances, mourning her past life.

Joan (Olivia Eiler) has already lost her husband to war, and fears it will claim the life of her son as well. Hardened by tragedy, she serves as the bold leader of the women as they begin to fill the holes their husbands left behind. However, Eiler's raw vulnerability and anger when facing a downed German pilot emphasize her humanity in a way that touches hearts.

The ensemble of women of the home front excellently distinguish themselves as individuals with unique, heartbreaking stories, bringing home the overarching theme that the pain of war does not discriminate. In contrast, J.C. Smuts (Grant Halliburton) and Mr. Mann (Edward Kemp) bring needed comic relief through bumbling public service announcements, hilariously demonstrating the incompetence of the British government.

Special effects (by Tyler Giraldin) including a constant, looming haze and flash paper for fire effectively create a wartime environment, while "Air Raid Precautions" pamphlets (created by Jamie Auer) falling from the ceiling involve the audience in the story. To top it off, the haunting wail of air raid warning sirens (produced by Kaleb Ketcheson and Kellan Jenner) emphasize the ever-present threat of war.

San Juan Hills High School's deeply affecting "Front" reminds of the heart and hope required to keep calm and carry on in the face of tragedy.

Sophia Burick
San Clemente
Submitted for publication to OC Register

San Juan Hills High School's "Front" finds humanity in the monstrosity of war
written by Sophia Burick, a junior at San Clemente High School

History often hails the brave British soldiers of World War II, defending the honor of their country and facing brutal combat with determination and grit. However, San Juan Hills High School's Front explores an aspect of this story not often considered: the horrors of the home front.

"Front" follows a group of British women and children as they watch their husbands leave to fight the Germans. With the life they knew blown to pieces, these women search for hope and purpose in the rubble of wartime London.

Judith (Claire Sandefur) is a mother of two children, left by her husband Frank (Chris Lemus) when he is shipped off to combat. As she finds herself alone in an increasingly chaotic world, Judith struggles to balance her support of her country with her resentment of all the war has taken from her. Sandefur's incredible performance brilliantly reveals Judith's internal conflict through her uneasy, tense tone and brief but longing glances, mourning her past life.

Joan (Olivia Eiler) has already lost her husband to war, and fears it will claim the life of her son as well. Hardened by tragedy, she serves as the bold leader of the women as they begin to fill the holes their husbands left behind. However, Eiler's raw vulnerability and anger when facing a downed German pilot emphasize her humanity in a way that touches hearts.

The ensemble of women of the home front excellently distinguish themselves as individuals with unique, heartbreaking stories, bringing home the overarching theme that the pain of war does not discriminate. In contrast, J.C. Smuts (Grant Halliburton) and Mr. Mann (Edward Kemp) bring needed comic relief through bumbling public service announcements, hilariously demonstrating the incompetence of the British government.

Special effects (by Tyler Giraldin) including a constant, looming haze and flash paper for fire effectively create a wartime environment, while "Air Raid Precautions" pamphlets (created by Jamie Auer) falling from the ceiling involve the audience in the story. To top it off, the haunting wail of air raid warning sirens (produced by Kaleb Ketcheson and Kellan Jenner) emphasize the ever-present threat of war.

San Juan Hills High School's deeply affecting "Front" reminds of the heart and hope required to keep calm and carry on in the face of tragedy.

Cara Sanchez
San Clemente
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

San Juan Hills Puts Feminism "Front" And Center
written by Cara Sanchez, a senior at San Clemente High School

Smoke haze fills the stage, as a white light highlights the heaps of rubbish peeking from the demolished buildings. Through the pain and anguish of war, the women at the home front must keep hope in order to survive, for themselves and for their country.

Set during the "Blitz" of World War II, San Juan Hills's "Front" presents the heartbreaking and historical perspective of women in wartime. The story follows Judith, Joan, and Angie, as well as the Londoners around them, as they struggle to keep hope and live in spite of loneliness and loss.

Claire Sandefur portrays the strong-willed matriarch, Judith. Her frantic and compulsive physicality when she irons her husband's shirts reveal her anxiety over her husband's deployment. However, in her darkest moments, her resilient persona is overshadowed by vulnerability in her facial expressions.

In contrast, Grant Halliburton, as J.C. Smuts, and Edward Kemp, as Mr. Mann, liven the mood as the incompetent government officials. J.C. Smuts' clear and authoritative voice contradicts with his ill-fated instructions. Meanwhile, Mr. Mann, against regulation, fumbles with his flask and stumbles across the stage.

In the Act Two opening scene, an ensemble of bomb victims tell their story as a photographer watches, helpless. The Photographer, played by Olivia Roselli, is shocked at the horror, her mouth agape and tears in her eyes. Her facial expression, combines with white spotlights on the victims, to contribute to a truly agonizing scene.

Audio, designed by Kaleb Ketcheson and Kellan Jenner, is perfectly timed and balanced. Sirens and alarms never overpower the dialogue and an unsettling hum accompanies monologues. Likewise, lighting, designed by Olivia Price, builds an ambiance of hopelessness. Shadows cast on the ensemble's faces, molding them to appear skeleton-like.

Hair and makeup design by Lexie Guzik and Savvy Green capture each character's personality and desires. Viv, a flirtatious young woman, wears thin, painted eyebrows and bold lipstick. Hair also signifies the women's journeys. At first, their hair is feminine and polished, but as their situation worsens, it becomes disheveled.

San Juan Hill's "Front" honors the women's perspective of the horrors of war. Through touching acting and brilliant tech effects, the war's impact on women cannot be ignored.

Cara Sanchez
San Clemente
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

San Juan Hills Puts Feminism "Front" And Center
written by Cara Sanchez, a senior at San Clemente High School

Smoke haze fills the stage, as a white light highlights the heaps of rubbish peeking from the demolished buildings. Through the pain and anguish of war, the women at the home front must keep hope in order to survive, for themselves and for their country.

Set during the "Blitz" of World War II, San Juan Hills's "Front" presents the heartbreaking and historical perspective of women in wartime. The story follows Judith, Joan, and Angie, as well as the Londoners around them, as they struggle to keep hope and live in spite of loneliness and loss.

Claire Sandefur portrays the strong-willed matriarch, Judith. Her frantic and compulsive physicality when she irons her husband's shirts reveal her anxiety over her husband's deployment. However, in her darkest moments, her resilient persona is overshadowed by vulnerability in her facial expressions.

In contrast, Grant Halliburton, as J.C. Smuts, and Edward Kemp, as Mr. Mann, liven the mood as the incompetent government officials. J.C. Smuts' clear and authoritative voice contradicts with his ill-fated instructions. Meanwhile, Mr. Mann, against regulation, fumbles with his flask and stumbles across the stage.

In the Act Two opening scene, an ensemble of bomb victims tell their story as a photographer watches, helpless. The Photographer, played by Olivia Roselli, is shocked at the horror, her mouth agape and tears in her eyes. Her facial expression, combines with white spotlights on the victims, to contribute to a truly agonizing scene.

Audio, designed by Kaleb Ketcheson and Kellan Jenner, is perfectly timed and balanced. Sirens and alarms never overpower the dialogue and an unsettling hum accompanies monologues. Likewise, lighting, designed by Olivia Price, builds an ambiance of hopelessness. Shadows cast on the ensemble's faces, molding them to appear skeleton-like.

Hair and makeup design by Lexie Guzik and Savvy Green capture each character's personality and desires. Viv, a flirtatious young woman, wears thin, painted eyebrows and bold lipstick. Hair also signifies the women's journeys. At first, their hair is feminine and polished, but as their situation worsens, it becomes disheveled.

San Juan Hill's "Front" honors the women's perspective of the horrors of war. Through touching acting and brilliant tech effects, the war's impact on women cannot be ignored.

Caroline Ullem
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

San Juan Hills Presents a Moving Production of "Front"
written by Caroline Ullem, a junior at St. Margaret's Episcopal School

Telling the story of the brave women and men who stay home from the fighting and face horrific enemy bombings in London during World War II, San Juan Hills's "Front" brings to life an enrapturing story of love, loss, and community.

When the men of London are sent off to fight in the war, the women and children are left behind to keep the home front afloat. As women get jobs for the first time, families cope with losses of their husbands and sons, and enemy bombings are a daily occurrence, the people of London continue to move through life with strength.

Leading the cast is Claire Sandefur as Judith, who delivers each line with vivid emotion and active body language. From lovingly pressing her husband's shirts to anguished cries of grief, Sandefur uses her expressive tone of voice and body language to reveal the deep and gut-wrenching emotions of her character. Judith's daughter Angie is played by Lila Holley, who effectively transitions from a playful girl to a sorrowful young woman.

Olivia Eiler supports the cast as Joan, a strong mother of a young soldier. Eiler's consistent English accent and lively emotion are always energetic, escalating to her rage at the losses that war has inflicted on her family. Edward Kemp entertains as Mr. Mann, an old man who aids in a fire safety announcement. His active body language is engaging and provides comic relief, from crawling across the floor to pumping the water pump with panic.

The entire cast is consistently energetic and reflective of the mood of the scene, whether it is a scene of dancing and playful flirting or the solemn telling of stories of civilians who had been bombed.

Sierra Young brought the stage to life through her beautiful set, complete with a backdrop of newspapers from the war and a stage full of rubble, full of details of the many lives lost during the bombings. Caitlin Armstrong and Lila Holley designed beautiful costumes that showed the women's transition from feminine housewives in beautiful dresses to hard-working patriots providing for their families, wearing overalls and pants.

Through sensational acting and effective tech, San Juan Hills brings to life the solemn realities of the home front in England during World War II in their production of "Front".

Caroline Ullem
St. Margaret's Episcopal
Submitted for publication to OC Facebook

San Juan Hills Presents a Moving Production of "Front"
written by Caroline Ullem, a junior at St. Margaret's Episcopal School

Telling the story of the brave women and men who stay home from the fighting and face horrific enemy bombings in London during World War II, San Juan Hills's "Front" brings to life an enrapturing story of love, loss, and community.

When the men of London are sent off to fight in the war, the women and children are left behind to keep the home front afloat. As women get jobs for the first time, families cope with losses of their husbands and sons, and enemy bombings are a daily occurrence, the people of London continue to move through life with strength.

Leading the cast is Claire Sandefur as Judith, who delivers each line with vivid emotion and active body language. From lovingly pressing her husband's shirts to anguished cries of grief, Sandefur uses her expressive tone of voice and body language to reveal the deep and gut-wrenching emotions of her character. Judith's daughter Angie is played by Lila Holley, who effectively transitions from a playful girl to a sorrowful young woman.

Olivia Eiler supports the cast as Joan, a strong mother of a young soldier. Eiler's consistent English accent and lively emotion are always energetic, escalating to her rage at the losses that war has inflicted on her family. Edward Kemp entertains as Mr. Mann, an old man who aids in a fire safety announcement. His active body language is engaging and provides comic relief, from crawling across the floor to pumping the water pump with panic.

The entire cast is consistently energetic and reflective of the mood of the scene, whether it is a scene of dancing and playful flirting or the solemn telling of stories of civilians who had been bombed.

Sierra Young brought the stage to life through her beautiful set, complete with a backdrop of newspapers from the war and a stage full of rubble, full of details of the many lives lost during the bombings. Caitlin Armstrong and Lila Holley designed beautiful costumes that showed the women's transition from feminine housewives in beautiful dresses to hard-working patriots providing for their families, wearing overalls and pants.

Through sensational acting and effective tech, San Juan Hills brings to life the solemn realities of the home front in England during World War II in their production of "Front".