The Outsiders
at St. Paul VI Catholic High School

Reviewed on November 23, 2019

Tess Wadson
Justice High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Whether you are a Greaser, a Soc, or somewhere in between, you are bound to enjoy St. Paul VI Catholic High School's rendition of "The Outsiders." There is no divide when it comes to the eclectic performance of this cast!

Based on the brilliant novel by S.E. Hinton, "The Outsiders" follows the story of Ponyboy, a bright teenager stuck in a rough part of town, and his gang the Greasers as they rival the pretentious Socials (or Socs). The novel was adapted into a film in 1983 and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Continuing its road to success, the book was then turned into a stage play in 1990, written by Christopher Sergel. Ponyboy and his Greasers fight against the brutal Socs, doing anything it takes to become victorious and take claim over their part of town.

Guiding us through and narrating this production was Ponyboy, played by Jak Ketron. Ketron's ease of storytelling and ability to switch between audience recognition was remarkable. The relationships between Ponyboy and his brothers, Darry (Ryan Jahn) and Sodapop (Rixon Webb) were incredibly moving. Their family dynamic was more than touching, especially in their "reunion" scene. The three worked together to create a believable and heart-warming bond. Webb especially displayed some intricate and carefully curated background motions.

Another astounding performance was that of Johnny, played by Martin Umali. Umali commanded attention in a subtle and rewarding manner. His relationships with each Greaser were different and brilliantly executed, varying from careful to brotherly. Umali was able to convey each emotion with such clear incentive and thought, stunning audiences especially with his powerful presence.

One of the most notable performances of the night was that of the tech crew. Both the stagehands (Gaby Flores, Sabrina Smith, Grace Williams) and lighting designers (headed by Jon Greene) excelled in their fields, pulling off impeccable transitions that helped the continuity of the story. Each shift was meticulously thought out and executed astonishingly. The tone of the lighting was a perfect representation and match to each scene, providing even more clarity and emotion for audiences.

Other commendable performances include Two-Bit (Adam Hill), Cherry (Faith Hargadon), and Marcia (Karina Morey). Hill exemplified the quirky and tough nature of his character throughout the story, fidgeting and flexing the entirety of the show. His snappy remarks and quick punchlines made him a delight to see on stage. Both Hargadon and Morey were intense and passionate in their performances.

St. Paul VI Catholic High School provided a poignant and stirring recreation of The Outsiders, reminding audiences that even when times are tough, always "stay gold."

Jordan Hundley
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Rival gangs have been a prevalent throughout theatre history: the Montagues and the Capulets in Romeo and Juliet, the Jets and the Sharks in West Side Story, and now, the Greasers and the Socs in The Outsiders. But why this repetition in theme? Is it to epitomize the clash between two incompatible forces? Or is it to manifest that in the end, they're not much different? St. Paul VI Catholic High School's moving production of The Outsiders explored this very question.

Based on the classic 1967 novel by S.E. Hinton, Christopher Sergel's 1990 play adaption of The Outsiders illustrates the violent feud between two rival gangs that are divided by socioeconomic status: the blue-collar "Greasers" and the upper-class "Socs."

With passionate performances, convincing physicality, and solid technical elements, the entire cast and crew of St. Paul VI Catholic High School's The Outsiders effectively brought the iconic chronicle to life. Leading and narrating the show was young Ponyboy Curtis, played by Jak Ketron, who maintained amazing characterization with his boy-like innocence and amiability. Similarly, his best friend Johnny, played by Martin Umali, utilized consistent mannerisms and traits to represent his shy and timid nature. Together, Ketron and Umali portrayed the teenagers' shifts from perceived hoodlums to humble heroes with ease, demonstrating their unmistakable acting talent.

Alongside Johnny and Ponyboy was bad-boy Dallas, played by Davis Trax, who portrayed the maverick remarkably in a realistic manner, never crossing the line into a humorous rebel, which greatly benefited the performance and represented his control as an actor. Contrasting his bold temperament was the gentle, yet independent, persona of Cherry, played by Faith Hargadon, who served as a set reminder that not all Socs are immoral.

Adding a bit of humor to the dark and dreary show was the Greaser, Two-Bit, and the Soc, Marcia, played by Adam Hill and Karina Morey respectively. Their witty deliveries, amusing physicality, and humorous interactions lit up the stage and were a delight to watch, especially when paired with one another.

Adding to the impressive performances were the well-executed technical aspects. The lighting, implemented by Jon Greene, Lucian Kapushoc, John Kiechlin, and Kristine Tran, was perhaps the most imposing technical effect. It utilized different color schemes to portray various times of day, locations, and tones, with a prime example being the beautiful golden sunrise at the church. Additionally, the hair and makeup, done by Allison Fentress, Faith Hargadon, Jessica Herrity, and Meghan Hermes, along with the costumes, by Mary Hitchcock, Caitlin Hollen, Olivia O'Connell, and Grace Wright, clearly established the 1960s time period with the slicked-back hair and denim or leather jackets. Moreover, makeup did a fantastic job of creating Johnny's burn wounds, utilizing bright reds and visible blood to underscore the shock factor. Finally, the stage crew, led by Gaby Flores, Sabrina Smith, and Grace Williams, accomplished swift and clean scene transitions, never upstaging the actors despite carrying out transitions mid-scene.

With splendid performances and strong technical aspects, St. Paul VI Catholic High School's poignant production of The Outsiders clearly answered the question by disclosing that even despite divergences, everyone watches the same sunset.

Liam Bates
Justice High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

No one ever said growing up is easy, but it's especially difficult for the Greasers. The Greasers are a group of poor teenagers who live in constant fear of getting attacked by the rich kids known as the "Socs." St. Paul VI Catholic High School's production of "The Outsiders" brings these two gangs to life in a brilliant stage adaptation of the classic novel. The original story was written by S. E. Hilton in 1967 and adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel in 1990. The story follows Ponyboy Curtis (Jak Ketron), a 14 year old Greaser who enjoys going to school and hanging out with his friends. One fateful night, Ponyboy and his friend Johnny Cade (Martin Umali) are attacked by some Socs and Johnny ends up killing one of them. The two Greasers run away from home, learning more about the brutalities of gang warfare and the necessities of fighting.

A spotlight performance in this show was Umali as Johnny Cade. Umali perfectly encapsulated the timid nature of the character, realistically developing him throughout the show. Johnny is afraid of all Socs after being brutally beaten by some, and Umali conveys this fear perfectly. His relationship with Ketron is endearing to watch as the two feel like real friends. The lessons that Johnny teaches Ponyboy are expertly demonstrated through Umali's amazing performance.

Another standout performance was Adam Hill as Two-Bit. Two-Bit is one of Ponyboy's Greaser friends who is always trying to find a date. Hill's connection to his love interest Marcia (Karina Morey) was both comical and sweet. Hill also mastered the use of props with his handling of a switchblade, a common weapon for a Greaser. Hill was able to easily convey Two-Bit's emotions through the intensity of his switchblade tricks, adding an additional layer of depth to his role.

The technical aspects of "The Outsiders" also deserve praise. The lighting crew (Jon Greene, Lucian Kapushoc, Jon Kiechlin, Kristine Tran) was able to effortlessly focus the audience's attention on the characters as the scene shifted behind them. Ponyboy's monologues were consistently well lit and the special effects for the fire scene blew the audience away. The makeup team, led by Allison Fentress, also brought an new layer of life to the show. The age lines on the greasers exemplified their tiring lifestyle and the poised composition of the Socs gave them a higher status in appearance alone. The makeup done to Johnny while he is injured was also spectacular. The audience gasped when Johnny was rolled out on stage, covered in burn marks. The run crew directed by Gaby Flores, Sabrina Smith, and Grace Williams also took advantage of the absence of blackouts and seamlessly transitioned between scenes. Their costumes were accentuated by the lighting as they moved props on and off and rotated the exquisitely decorated periaktois.

St. Paul VI Catholic High School's production of "The Outsiders" perfectly captures the story of the original novel while bringing its own twist through the excellent cast and crew. Fans of the original book do not want to miss this golden show.

Kaitlin Molloy
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

In a town divided by economic status and stereotypes, it is easy to feel like an outcast or an outsider, even if you belong to one faction. Bringing to life the stratification and rivalries of the 1960s, St. Paul VI Catholic High School's production of The Outsiders teaches us that maybe two distinct worlds aren't so different, after all, you can see the sunset from both sides of town.

Christopher Sergel's stage adaptation of The Outsiders is based on S.E Hinton's best-selling book of the same title, originally published in 1967, wherein the coming-of-age novel draws on Hinton's personal experiences. The stage adaptation also draws inspiration from the 1983 picture.

Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1965, The Outsiders depicts the conflict between two rival gangs: the working-class "Greasers" and the upper-class "Socs"(short for "Socials"). The story follows Ponyboy Curtis, a young, sensitive Greaser, who flees to the countryside with fellow Greaser, Johnny Cade, after Johnny kills a Soc in self-defense. This causes tension to mount between the Socs and the Greasers, culminating in a final rumble.

The sensitive Ponyboy Curtis (Jak Ketron) is caught between the warring groups and feels alienated from the rest of the greasers. Ketron masterfully narrates the tension-filled and heartwarming story, with engaging monologues and strategic physicalities. Leaning into his character's innocence, Ketron excellently portrayed the multi-faceted character. His zeal and involvement in every scene, be it through distinct movements, reactions, or realistic interactions with his cast mates, enticed the audience into exploring the nuances and quirks of Ponyboy.

The quick-witted and "quippy" Twobit (Adam Hill) shares Ponyboy's loyalty to the Greasers. With charming physicality and snappy commentary, Hill perfectly encapsulates the wisecracking character, especially his pompous flexing at the drive-in movie when he hopes to impress a Socs. He displayed impeccable comedic timing and incredible skill in his complex butterfly knife tricks, leaving the audience in awe.

Meanwhile, the sassy Soc, Marcia (Karina Morey), dislikes the fighting between the Socs and Greasers. Morey provides quick, playful remarks with Twobit at the drive-in movies, realistically creating a charming relationship with the Greaser. Morey's wit caught audiences off-guard and left them chuckling whenever she came on stage.

Reflecting the stratification of the '60s, the effective use of color in costuming designed by Mary Hitchcock, Caitlin Hollen, Olivia O'Connell, and Grace Wright divides the Socs and Greasers even further- the Greasers being clad in darker tones and denim, whereas the Socs are adorned in bright colors. Effort, time, and research were put into the makeup by Allison Fentress, Faith Hargadon, Jessica Herrity, and Meghan Hermes, be it noticeable scars from a previous scrap or hyper-realistic burn makeup that elicited an audible reaction from the audience. But perhaps the technical element that stood out the most was the masterful stage crew: Katie Elder, Madison Hughes, Sonya Lyalikov, Lex Nguyen, Quynhmai Nguyen, and Grace Wright. Despite having many quick and difficult scene transitions, the crew was extremely well-organized, quick, and unnoticeable, even when the stage was still lit. They effortlessly moved the periaktoi to keep audiences immersed within a scene.

With heartfelt performances and breathtaking technical elements, St. Paul VI Catholic High School's production of The Outsiders is truly one for the books, enrapturing audiences and staying true to its roots. Thecast and crew encouraged us to look past the differences we see on the outside because we all have it rough, and in doing so we can "stay gold."

Sarah Bourgeois
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to The Catholic Herald

A young boy's dirty hands flip through the worn pages of a composition notebook as he struggles to put his thoughts into words. What he's working on is nothing more than a school paper, but in the night to come he would work harder than he ever had before to survive, if nothing else. In the world of "The Outsiders," Greasers and Socs clash at every turn, but that's just how things are in the riveting production at St. Paul VI Catholic High School.

S. E. Hinton's 1960's novel "The Outsiders" became an American classic that inspired both a film and stage adaptation. With a play written by Christopher Sergel, "The Outsiders" enters a dismal town where the tale of two gangs divided by their origins unfolds. Boys with cuffed jeans, slicked-back hair, and low socioeconomic status occupy the rough side of town, living dangerously because they have no other choice. They face unending conflict with the financially privileged Socials, or Socs. Although tensions run high, all is calm until two naive Greasers pull a knife in a fight. Self defense or otherwise, a Soc lies dead at their feet. The young boys are ill-prepared for the hardships to come, but they take them on gallantly nonetheless.

The youthful innocence of Ponyboy was portrayed by Jak Ketron. As the youngest of the Greasers, Ketron carried himself with pride in following the group. His line delivery flowed between breaking the fourth wall in narrative moments to contemplating how he fits into society with ease. Johnny Cade was portrayed by Martin Umali with many touching moments. From detailing his less-than-ideal domestic situation to shying away from pretty girls, Umali created a warm and lovable character.

The fiery Cherry was portrayed by Faith Hargadon with consistency. Emotion seeped out of every word she spoke in a testament to the power of her vocality. As an upper crust Soc, Hargadon displayed similar uncertainties and strife to that of the Greasers, teaching Ponyboy that both sides are human. A comedic flair was brought to the stage through Adam Hill as Two-Bit. The suave character seemed to be innocently stretching, but instead he was flexing his biceps to impress a girl in a genuine array of physical comedy. Hill effortlessly tossed a butterfly knife around while sizing up Socs to further enhance his skill as a performer.

Sabrina Smith served as the stage manager, calling cues with pinpoint accuracy. She valiantly lead the technical teams of the production to secure well-timed scene changes and lighting cues. Assistant stage managers Gaby Flores and Grace Williams, alongside their commendable stage crew, conducted seamless scene changes while moving large, seemingly immobile set pieces. This daunting task was executed fluidly to accomplish fast transitions. The lighting design of Jon Greene meshed with the sound engineering of Vanessa Van Horn to embellish the tone of each scene. As a church burned, vivid red light danced across the set piece while the crackling of flames resonated throughout the theater. The combination of these technical intricacies made for a stimulating end result.

A young boy's grimy fingers trace the pages of "Gone with the Wind" before a sealed envelope falls from inside. Upon reading the note left for him by a loved one he had lost, the boy and the audience alike are reminded to "stay gold" in St. Paul IV Catholic High School's heart-wrenching production of "The Outsiders."

Eli Crishock
Oakcrest School
Submitted for publication to Connection

"The Outsiders," based upon the novel by S.E. Hinton and adapted into a play by Christopher Sergel, is about the battle between the Greasers and the Socials (otherwise known as Socs). These two groups get into fights with each other just on the basis of their monetary status. This story, filled with heart, devastation, and loss was performed phenomenally by St. Paul VI Catholic High School.

One of the most impressive aspects of the show's tech was the stage crew and stage management, run by Gaby Flores, Sabrina Smith, and Grace Williams. Every cue was spot on. The set changes were done remarkably well with attention and speed, without drawing focus away from the action on the stage. However, a noticeable and enjoyable detail worth mentioning was the costuming of the stage crew: all were dressed in jeans, black converse, and black shirts, matching the aesthetic of the Greasers.

Another notable impressive tech aspect of "The Outsiders" was the lighting, run by Jon Greene, Lucian Kapushoc, John Kiechlin, and Kristine Tran. There were many notable changes in the lighting throughout the play that were significant to the storyline; these moments included the lighting done to denote the sunrise, the change in the harshness of the lighting for the hospital scene, the red and blue flashing lights to for the ambulance scene, the lighting for the fire, and the golden lighting on Johnny's line "stay golden."

Many of the actors and actresses in "The Outsiders" showed impressive talent and commitment to their characters. Ponyboy, played by Jak Ketron, played the part of the young boy impressively. Ketron's ability to remain in character while breaking the fourth wall and narrating the story highlighted his talent as an actor. Another impressive actor was Adam Hill, who played Two-Bit. Hill especially stood out in his comedic performance, with little bits like flexing his muscles or one-liner comments. Hill's consistent butterfly knife tricks were also impressive.

Speaking of knives, this show's prop department, run by Jessica Herrity, Alex Issing, and Martin Umali, did especially well. From Ponyboy's composition book to the Wonderbread Johnny bought from the store, every prop used in the production was time period accurate and was almost in perfect detail according to S.E. Hinton's novel.

The hair and makeup crew, led by Allison Fentress, Faith Hargadon, Jessica Herrity, and Meghan Hermes, paid a special attention to detail in the styling of the Greasers. Johnny, a Greaser played by Martin Umali, had especially thick hair that needed to be greased back. This intelligent crew decided to use a mixture of water and olive oil to keep his hair slicked and period appropriate. Umali's makeup was also a huge feat this crew conquered with flying colors. Johnny gets burned in Act II and is seen in the hospital a few scenes later. Umali's burn makeup was done in a very timely manner and received a gasp from the entire audience.

The cast and crew of "The Outsiders" at St. Paul VI Catholic High School did a phenomenal job at portraying this devastating, heartwarming story about love, loss, and social outcasts, reminding their audience to "stay golden."

Rachel Sinniger
Hayfield Secondary
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Everyone who took a grade seven English class knows the iconic line, "Stay gold, Ponyboy." There was no way S.E Hinton could have known the cultural impact she would produce when she wrote "The Outsiders" in 1967, and she most definitely did not think it would have been adapted for the stage. The stage play was written by Christopher Sergel and was most recently produced at St. Paul VI Catholic High School.

The show featured touching performances by Martin Umali as Johnny, who had many measured emotions and showed them in a way that set him apart from the other characters. There were stand out acting moments from Faith Hargadon, playing Cherry, who was consistently in control of her character as she appeared before the court, making the audience believe every word she said. Adam Hill, who played Two-Bit, walked the fine line between comedy and the actual tone of the play, showing his ability to control his emotions, as well as his ability to control his butterfly knife. And Karina Morey, who played Marcia, showed great skill by keeping up her energy, and comedy, in a play that is not very conducive to either of those things.

The Greasers had impressive chemistry that developed and carried throughout the show, proving them to be a good ensemble. Rixon Webb as Sodapop made everybody like him as he kept up his background acting, which added something that would have been missing without him. Caitlin Hollen as Doctor was a refreshing addition to the play when her entrance came in the second act. Her straight-faced line delivery and ability to easily transition between emotions was impressive and put her great skill on display.

A round of applause needs to be given to the makeup crew, headed by Allison Fentress, who created burn wounds all over Johnny's upper body, despite having very little time to do so. Mary Hitchcock, Caitlin Hollen, Olivia O'Connell, and Grace Wright were all tasked with costuming the cast, and they certainly pulled it off. Each costume clearly showed which gang the character belonged to, all while remaining truthful to the time period, to the extent that they could. The props were also very fitting to the time period, with details like the retro Pepsi logo showing up on drink cups. There were also specific elements from the book that were delivered, like the Wonderbread or composition notebook. The lighting showed real thought, such as when the sun rose on the church at the start of the second act or when there was a change to clean, white light as characters entered the hospital. Most notably was the change to golden light during the reading of Robert Frost's "Nothing Gold Can Stay," which added a subtle nuance to the scene.

The show reflected that the cast had done their homework to make the play true to the original book, and did all that they could to bring the famous characters to life.