Perspective
at Freedom High School

Reviewed on May 22, 2021

Zack Burton
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

"Strength doesn't come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming things you once thought you couldn't." When life decides to throw everything it has at us, and then some, we have to remember that we're not alone. Freedom High School's heart-touching introspective piece of "Perspective" showed both the fragility and fortitude of the human spirit, as it examines the psyche of the teenage mind.

Written by the students of Freedom High School, "Perspective" provided an accurate depiction of a juvenile brain, especially because it was created by and for adolescents. The show centered around an intertwining story of anxious students dealing with high school life, replicating scenes from different characters' points of view. All the while, a nagging Subconscious, played by Cami DiVenere, plagued the inner monologue of kids, inserting invasive insults into their thoughts.

Given the task of delving into serious topics, such as depression and anxiety, every actor rose to the occasion, performing both maturely and gracefully. Tyler Potock as Riley made great use of physicality to show the negative emotions he was feeling. The more his anxious thoughts set in, the more clammy and fidgety he became, until he finally lashed out at his friend Sam (Molly Anthony). As the play shifted to a therapy session, Anthony displayed vulnerability as she spilled her heart out. She precisely portrayed the grief and anxiety of a person who had lost a loved one. Dr. Clarke, played by Sarah Rossman, brought a calming and authoritative presence to the cast. She brought out the best of the other characters, supplying a calm to their chaos, a yin to their yang. But the actress who tied the whole show together was Cami DiVenere. Playing the Subconscious of each character, DiVenere attacked and belittled every actor. Her biting words of self-doubt and uncertainty were emphasized even further by her intensity and inflection as she spoke.

While their faces were not seen, the work that the technicians did for the show could not go unnoticed! Providing a space for the Subconscious to enter was crucial, so use of lighting by Claire Nguyen to show when an actor's inner monologue started and ended was impeccable. The minimalist set, accompanied only by the props made by Cami DiVenere and Sarah Rossman, generated a neutral blank space that highlighted the actors as they delivered stunning arrays of emotion. Stage manager Allison Fountaine gave the play a realistic feel. Her blocking made the acting feel natural, despite having to work around COVID restrictions. Fountaine's use of slow-motion choreography while an actor was in an inner monologue added another layer of excellence to a show already chock full of them.

As curtains closed on Freedom High School's unvarnished production of "Perspective," a sense of serene calm and peace settled in. With the message that no matter what, there are people that will help you when you need it is an important one to remember. Life is a storm, whether we like it or not. It's going to try to knock us down. No matter how turbulent the winds or how torrential the rain, we still have people to support us. "You can't control the weather, but you can grab an umbrella to make things better."

Ishika Naik
Clarksburg High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

What if subconsciouses could talk? What if they could speak aloud all one's thoughts- including the nasty, overthinking, negative ones? Freedom High School's Perspective invited their audience into the world of four teenagers and their inner bullies: their subconsciouses. Using an original script written about the reality of mental illnesses, FHS not only told a creative story, but also showcased their unlimited creativity and ability to spread awareness on a serious topic through a one-act play.

The show followed Sam, Riley, Quinn, and Kayla throughout their journey to seek help for the effects of their mental illnesses. Through everyday interactions, their Subconscious would feed the characters anxious, hurtful thoughts that would affect them as well as those around them. Ending on a hopeful note, the characters broke the fourth wall for a final time, explaining that everyone's feelings are valid and informing the audience it's never too late to find help.

Dr. Clarke, portrayed by Sarah Rossman, gave a wonderful performance and was able to enunciate her lines clearly, even with her mask on. Additionally, Molly Anthony, who played Sam, developed her character's arc intelligently through her slow realization that others can go through issues similar to her own. She also waited to reveal her anxious thoughts until later in the show. In this way, she expressed that people could seem like they're okay as they fight battles within themselves in secret. Finally, the Subconscious, played by Cami DiVenere, made the brilliant choice to utilize a slightly more nasal, high-pitched voice to convey how annoying one's subconscious can be when one has a mental illness.

A writing team consisting of four people scripted this show themselves, using candid, non-sugarcoated language to really give their audience a full picture. Mental illness tends to be glossed over in the media, but FHS's creative team did a wonderful job keeping it honest. They seemed to know their audience and catered to it, reflecting teens by using things like modern lingo. Incredible lighting choices and execution of those choices were carried out by Claire Nguyen, which balanced out the lack of an elaborate set or excessive props. It added dimensions to the scenes and served as an emotional reminder that performances can finally use a theater's lighting and sound after over a year of virtual shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though props were limited, the lack of them helped bring the focus of each scene to the important issues being represented without the distraction of flashy items.

The twelve-person cast and crew of Freedom High School's Perspective might have been small in size, but not once did they lack any sort of power. The necessary discourse on this topic was approached beautifully, in a concise, engaging, and explicitly truthful fashion. One's subconscious isn't always one's friend. More times than not, it can be one's enemy. Maybe subconsciouses should come out in the open and speak their minds just like Sam's, Riley's, Quinn's, and Kayla's did- it's time for their bullying to finally cease.

Teresa Ribeiro
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Approximately 1 in 5 teens suffer from some form of mental illness, yet it's still so common for young people to feel alone in their struggles. Freedom High Schools' production, Perspective, hoped to reduce the stigma of struggling and seeking help. The show revolved around teens faced with personal battles and how they advocated for their health. The polished actors, student-written script, and skillful technical elements created a superb and informative show bursting with the reality of many American teens.

Since the cast was fairly small, many students were able to have their moment to shine. Namely, Cami DiVenere (Subconscious) who, although the most abstract character, was a clear and interesting addition to the show. She used her space artistically by flying around and using every foot available to her. She truly embodied the all-encompassing nature of the subconscious. Moreover, the actors were able to overcome the challenges of projecting and emoting with masks on like professionals. Maeleigh Moore (Quinn's Mom/Coach) was exemplary and had crisp vocal intonation. Speaking of dedication, Molly Anthony (Sam) had impressive control of her movement, especially when she walked in slow motion to highlight the racing thoughts of her fellow performer, Tyler Potock (Riley). Potock also had great physicality, especially in relation to his Subconscious. Finally, Sarah Rossman (Dr. Clarke) was the consistency the show needed. She beautifully contrasted the teen's turbulence with groundedness and reassurance.

In addition, the writing was realistic and down-to-earth. The writing, done by students Allison Fountaine, Maeleigh Moore, Molly Anthony, and Lilly Christenbury, was a natural dialog that would be expected from real teenagers. They covered many different topics from many different points of view. It was surprising (pleasantly) to find a show that offered the many possible reactions and feelings associated with mental illness in teens and the effect it has on those around them, like family, friends, and classmates. In addition, the writers didn't feel the need to label the illnesses or pin any characters down. This helped the show feel organic and avoided harmful stereotypes or stigma associated with specific mental health issues. Lastly, they made effective choices. For example, they used Dr. Clarke as a bookend because she began and ended the show in a similar fashion, which gave a satisfying finish to the story. Similarly, they used real statistics on teen mental illness to show reality and be informative on the subject. They also chose to include inspirational and hopeful messages that highlighted the universality of struggles and asked for help.

Excitingly, the tech elements truly stole the show. The props (Sarah Rossman and Cami DiVenere) were minimal but effective at creating a setting while maintaining the focus on characters. The blocking, which was affected by social distancing measures, still felt raw and typical of a regular year's show. Amazingly, all sound elements (Elle Pope) were clear even with every actor wearing a face mask. Most engaging was the lighting (Claire Nguyen), which was not only helpful in showcasing the focus of the scene but also helped create the environment and dimension of the setting without a physical set.

All in all, even with restrictions and safety measures, the show was well-acted, cleverly written, and successfully teched. There are many shows about teenage mental health struggles, but most cannot offer the array of Perspectives these Freedom High School students displayed.

Molly Manhoff
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

Four teenagers. One high school. All wading through the difficulties and struggles of mental illness as they desperately try to keep their heads above water. Freedom High School's Perspective dove deep into how real high schoolers feel and deal with their mental health struggles, and who they go to when their subconscious gets to be too much. With vibrant characters and spectacular lighting, the cast and crew wove together a brilliant story of how everyone deserves a platform to speak, and everyone deserves to be listened to.

Whether it be Riley's (Tyler Potock) anxiety over embarrassing himself in front of a pair of strangers, Kayla (Ava Canonica) dealing with an overbearingly, unrelentingly critical mother, or Quinn's (Heather McLaughlin) strained relationship with therapy, the show was filled with interesting characters with struggles lingering just under the surface. Potock's panic, revving up more as his friend Sam kept pressing, felt stunningly genuine and relatable. His dynamic with Sam (Molly Anthony) clicked immediately, just the right mix of understanding best friends and people who push just a little too hard. Canonica, vulnerable and hurting, tugged on heartstrings with her struggle to fend for herself against her mother's (Abby Luck) biting--yet laced with saccharine sweetness--words. She was sweet and pained, the complete opposite of her first impression, and Luck's scathing, passive-aggressive insults truly embodied the character of a toxic parent. Not to mention McLaughlin, whose intense posture, strained words, and imaginary scenarios perfectly encapsulated the anxiety of how scary therapy can be for some people; of how their mental health and inner thoughts filled them with doubt and inadequacy.

Of course, cast alone isn't what makes a production. The tech team did a phenomenal job. From the lighting to the set to the script, everything was chosen with tuned attention to detail and story. The lighting, headed by Claire Nguyen, was professional and character-focused. The spotlights and transitions were right on beat with the scenes, focusing on the characters and their inner conflicts, not to mention creating so much dimension within the minimal set. Not to say that the set and props were lacking by any means. Together, Sarah Rossman and Cami DiVenere designed the various rooms and halls where the story took place. From Quinn's bed to Dr. Clarke's office, everything was picked perfectly to establish the scene without drawing the eye away from the actors. The script, written entirely by students (Allison Fountaine, Maeleigh Moore, Molly Anthony, and Lilly Christenbury), truly drew on the high school experience. Coming right from the source, the writers made sure every character had their own unique perspective and experience, rather than the one-note, flat storylines that tend to come from people outside of high school.

With vivid, dimensional characters and a spectacularly detail-oriented tech crew, Perspective by Freedom High School was a brilliant showcase and deep dive into high schoolers' minds and mental health. Vulnerable and heartfelt, they truly found their own voices up on stage.

Maya Berry
South Lakes High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

In a world of consistently clashing perspectives, how can we know the ideas contrived from our subconscious are true? Freedom High School's live-taped performance of "Perspective" encapsulated the perturbing subconscious ever-present among teens and how it influences their perception of reality. Writers Allison Fountaine, Maeleigh Moore, Molly Anthony, and Lilly Christenbury truly brought the story to life as, it was centered around four beautiful stories of teens in high school who struggled to cope with anxiety and their journeys to receive help.

At the beginning of the show, Riley's subconscious began to raise doubts about going with his best friend, Sam, to talk to their project partner Kayla. The spotlight then switched to Kayla when she expressed her anxiety in her room to her mother, who had already called Dr. Clarke and scheduled a therapy appointment for her daughter. Meanwhile, In Dr. Clarke's office, Sam sought to calm her anxiety about her schoolwork and Riley's recent freak out with Kayla. The last student of focus, Quinn, began harping over her Mom's criticisms and expectations for her as her subconscious came into the picture. The production ended with a superb close: each student mentioned whom they received help from amongst their struggle with anxiety and the hurtful voices of their subconsciousness.

Every character in the show was well-played and in contrast with the others. Tyler Potock's Riley was a cool-headed complement to Cami DiVenere's excellent portrayal of his anxious subconscious. Ava Canonica as Kayla was easy to dislike at first, being the typical popular girl, but Canonica added layers to the character, asking the audience to consider the impact of anxiety on her daily life. Abby Luck as Kayla's Mom tapped into her role as a mother wonderfully, encouraging her daughter to get help from Dr. Clarke calmly and warmly. Sarah Rossman as Dr. Clarke played into the empathetic and caring nature of a therapist. Quinn (Heather McLaughlin) and Quinn's Mom (Maeleigh Moore) added more conflict to the story with the theme of perceptions as Quinn's mom encouraged her daughter to consider the opinions of others. Molly Anthony as Sam excelled in expressing range from her early optimism to her later doubtful and negative perspective about the situation with Riley.

The props utilized, such as the bed, backpacks, and laundry basket, made the production seem all the more realistic. Sarah Rossman and Cami DiVenere designed the beautiful props on stage, adding an extra dimension to the individual scenes. The lighting, managed by Claire Nguyen, differentiated the character's thoughts from those of their subconscious.

Overall, the film was an excellent display of the conflict of judgment and perception. The ending asked the audience to consider how anxiety affects everyone in different ways and consider how their subconscious impacts their daily lives.

Morgan Milman
Annandale High School
Submitted for publication to Blue Ridge Leader

The topic of teen's mental health is often danced around and avoided. Freedom High School's production of Perspective took it on without hesitation and did so beautifully. They expanded on multiple different mental health problems that represented many teen's issues today, like anxiety, depression, and grief. The onstage production format posed some challenges that the cast and crew overcame with strength.

Perspective was created by students in a theatre class that voted on different topics that they wanted to be represented in the show. Then, it was co-written by a group of students, Allison Fountaine, Maeleigh Moore, Molly Anthony, and Lilly Christenbury. The writers brought topics and ideas to the stage that they wanted to show and talked about and which topics usually have a stigma attached to them.

The actors that participated in the show were extremely talented and put forth a lot of effort, and it showed. The idea for the character of the subconscious (played by Cami DiVenere) was a superb concept to show all of the intricate, intrusive, and fast thoughts that go through a teenager's head during a given moment, especially when dealing with a mental health issue. The appearance of the subconscious in various situations was well thought out and greatly executed. The breaking of the fourth wall by the character of Quinn, portrayed by Heather McLaughlin, was a creative and exquisite touch to display the thoughts and worries going through their head while talking to the therapist, Dr. Clarke (Sarah Rossman). The use of showing different perspectives of the same situation wonderfully conveyed how each person could be dealing with their own issues at the same time. The scene with Riley (Tyler Potock) and Sam (Molly Anthony) displayed this cleanly and executed it with great attention to maintaining details between the mirrored scenes. Dr. Clarke spoke at the start and end of the show and that truly wrapped the ends together and contributed to the cohesiveness of the piece.

While making an onstage production, obstacles were bound to arise. The use of minimal to no set allowed more emphasis to be put onto the dialogue and characters. They had interesting staging while still maintaining physical distance between actors. The lighting highlighted characters well and displayed when the inner thoughts of the character were being told and when they weren't. When characters' inner thoughts were being explored, the rest of the cast was moving in slow motion, almost showing how fast the thoughts were occurring. Not being able to use microphones due to the VHSL requirements, the actors were able to overcome that challenge and project well.

The message of the importance of mental health was one that needed to be said. Freedom High School was not afraid to take the topic and run with it. Tackling these topics is no easy task, but this show was a beautiful representation of them. Freedom's production of Perspective should not be slept on, it is an important piece of theatre to be seen by many.