Long Division
at Langley High School

Reviewed on March 19, 2021

Ellen Keil
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

"What separates us?" In a world weary from a yearlong lockdown, the answer might seem simple: physical distance. However, this time of racial reckonings and growing political divisions has shown there are many other factors causing the disconnect. Langley High School's production of "Long Division" explored why rifts form in our society and what ultimately brings us all together.

"Long Division" was written by the students of Langley's advanced theatre class after the January 6th Capitol riot. Born from a devised theatre workshop with Arena Stage, the students felt it was important to create this show to share their experiences and record their emotions regarding our lives this past year.

The filming of the play was fully virtual; actors only interacted with each other through a split screen. A great deal of the performance was composed of voice-overs from students reacting to video clips from the news overlaid on screen. The other parts of the show were personal stories recited by the cast.

Although the nature of devised theatre means it is a highly collaborative form of art and usually features no lead characters, one standout performance came from Lindsay Muangman. As Muangman talked about the community rallying behind her essential-worker parents, her smile seemed to light up the room. Another great scene happened between Hannah Toronto and Kate Moore. The two girls showed how excessive stubbornness can be detrimental to society through a spoken short story seemingly brought to life by their voices.

The scene titled "Covid" was by far the highlight of the play because it was a large ensemble piece that allowed both the actors and the student editors to showcase their skills. The cast's incredible performance was enhanced by editors Conard Racich, Elizabeth Tippens, and Celeste Deale. Starting with a black screen and the sound of an alarm clock beeping, this scene displayed the repetitive motions we all do just to make it through the day. The overlapping, echoey voice-over by Racich and the ticking of a clock, which sounded like the pulsing of a heart, served to create an urgency in the scene, which was juxtaposed by the mundane actions shown by the actors. Altogether, the scene successfully conveyed the feeling of being trapped, like an ant under the shadow of a boot. This scene also had a great balance as it provided a brief moment of levity. When the voice-over reminded everyone to always share, a student looked right at the camera, raised an eyebrow, and held up a roll of toilet paper.

Although it is easy to focus on hate, Langley High School's production of "Long Division" showed that the distance created by division is not uncrossable.

Ethan Feil
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

"More than two hours of screen time is bad for you. What happened to that rule?" Langley High School shared many familiar sentiments from the past year in their moving and well-done production of "Long Division." The show offered an excellent recounting of the teenage perspective on every facet of last year including COVID, increasing violence, struggling relationships, and coming back to school.

After 2020, a year full of new experiences and arduous times, the students at Langley High School felt a responsibility to share their thoughts and feelings about how life has been for them in the best way they knew how: theater. The advanced theater class started writing down their stories, and with help from Arena Stage, compiled them into a lovely piece of devised theater. The show was in two parts. The first recounted the overarching problems that society has faced and then brings to light how people came together to support each other. The second sunk the focus to a day-to-day level by focusing on what it has been like to live and endure through everything that has happened, specifically from the eyes of a teenager.

The core of this production was anchored in its presentation. Langley used lots of stock footage, compiled by Celeste Deale, to underscore narrations of each actor. This gave the show a very professional atmosphere and helped to establish a sense of authority that reassured the audience. Furthermore, the presentation of recorded segments, edited by Conard Racich and Elizabeth Tippens, were brought together in a very clean manner which helped bring forward the importance of what the actors had to say.

"Long Division" featured many interesting performances. During the scene discussing COVID, the lead narration done by Eli Roberts shook the screen. His vocal intensity and gravitas sucked the air from the room and created an incredibly somber atmosphere. Other exceptional performances were delivered by Devran Johnson and Elizabeth Tippens. Their scene, "Time Apart," presented a budding relationship during COVID. They both started very optimistically, but as they spoke the mood shifted toward that of disconnection. This scene not only showcased two fantastic actors but showed how effectively a piece of devised theater could relate to its audience.

One of the best scenes in the entire piece showed the monotony of life during the pandemic. It showed a person getting out of bed, working at a computer, and then going to sleep. They did this over and over again, with a booming echo of narration. The editing began to dial up the speed and sound editing to the point of sensory overload and then cut to static. The display connected deeply with the audience and truly summed up the experience without outright saying much.

Langley's production of "Long Division" wonderfully put on display the life of a teenager during the global pandemic. The piece of devised theater used wonderful storytelling in combination with sincere narration to help bridge the gap over a long division.

Laura Jayne
Washington-Liberty High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

It is exhausting "living through a major historical event every five days." Police brutality, rampant spread of misinformation, attacks on our nation's democracy, and the endless pandemic have caused us all to question whether our nation will ever be able to heal. This is no stranger to Langley High School's theatre students who, in collaboration with Arena Stage, wrote a script to explore the meaning of "Long Division." "Long Division" was performed by two groups. The first group weaved found footage and personal commentary together to react to major events in the past year. The latter narrative offered a series of candid responses on topics of connection, control, and what the future holds. While exploring worldwide conflicts to personal struggles, "Long Division" beautifully weaved voice-overs, skits, and monologues to present each student's thoughts unfiltered.

Though each perspective presented in "Long Division" offered insightful and relatable commentary, the performances of Lindsay Muangman, Conard Racich, and Siannen Keough were unforgettable. Muangman delivered a stirring monologue that captured her experience watching her parents brave the pandemic each day as healthcare workers. Her pain and hope reached through the screen to remind the audience how life on the front lines of the virus affected many families. Racich's stoic voice perfectly encapsulated the inescapable monotony of our daily lives during the pandemic. Specifically, the sequence when he responded to rules like, "Remember to share" and "Don't spend more than 2 hours on screens" were delightfully ironic. His deadpan look very accurately represented the disgust we share in the "new normal." As well, Keough shined in her appearance in the second part of "Long Division." The frustration she expressed at her new normal is nicely balanced with the regret she felt about complaining at all. The feelings she expressed truly resonate with the many people whose lives have not been dramatically affected by the pandemic but reminds them that it's okay to be upset as long as they are also thankful for what they still have.

The structure and editing of "Long Division" were truly refreshing. The montage format that used thought-provoking voice-overs to transition from segment to segment was a welcome break from Zoom-centric storylines. Editors Conard Racich and Elizabeth Tippens used sound design, shot assembly, and voice distortions to effectively communicate the seemingly endless and hopeless nature of quarantine. As well, organizing the clips into different thematic segments and forging visual links between them created a very clear narrative to follow. These visual links, played simultaneously with the actors' voices, were very powerful in developing a connection with the audience. The images arranged by Celeste Deale caused feelings from the past to reemerge. These feelings reminded us of how strong we once were and how strong we can be in the future. Beautiful nature imagery was also used to express how the divisions between us seem so vast. While this may appear to be the case, the story shows us how we do have the capacity to come together through our shared experiences.

In conclusion, "Long Division" was a beautifully designed and thought-provoking piece that challenged its audience to confront seemingly uncrossable divisions.

Lauren Katz
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Patch (Fairfax/Alexandria)

Global pandemic. Political polarization. Racism. It has been a hard year for the world, especially those who are still growing up. The isolation and unrest felt by a generation are hard to put into words, but that's just what Langley High School's theatre company did.

"Long Division," Langley High School's documentary-style production, detailed the struggles that many of their students, as well as the world as a whole, have experienced in the past few years through anecdotal sequences, brief scenes, and voice-overs. All student-written and -performed, these scenes brought a deeply personal inside look into what people are going through and created a sense of unity that is rare in these divided times.

A show that covers such serious issues could never lift off the ground without a strong cast of actors driving the performance. It's rare to see such a large cast so uniform in their care taken to tell stories with honesty and passion, but the ensemble cast pulled it off with the impressive attention paid to every detail. One of the most heartfelt anecdotes in the show was when Lindsay Muangman spoke about her parents' dedication to their work as essential medical workers when the pandemic broke out. Muangman's serious nature combined with her natural storytelling abilities made her anecdote one of the most powerful in the show.

Another voice that evoked such raw emotion was that of Conard Racich. During the COVID-19 section of the show, there was a part meant to display the monotony of everyday life in quarantine. Racich's vocal performance helped perfectly encapsulate the feeling and truly demonstrate the impact quarantining had on teenagers. Racich along with the rest of the voice actors in the cast did a great job of defining a scene. All the voice acting sequences were done with impressive clarity, as physicality was not an option for those who voice acted. The voice acting tied the show together nicely and provided smooth transitions throughout.

It is not possible to talk about the smooth flow of the show, and the constant engagement that came along with watching, without addressing the editing of the show. The show was edited by Conard Racich and Elizabeth Tippens, and the videos were compiled by Celeste Deale. The quick cuts between stories, the perfect pauses between segments, and the beautiful images and videos shown during voice-over scenes ensured the show was paced well and helped further add impact to the show. Some of the voice-overs were even edited to have a voice effect, which brought another dimension to the production. The editing was well executed, quick-paced, and done on almost a professional level, a refreshing rarity in high school theatre.

The play as a whole could not have been timelier. The careful attention paid to the details that reflected the ongoing issues in the world made this production especially realistic and raw. The maturity displayed by actors and the cathartic nature of the writing brought forward a show that was satisfying to watch and emotionally rejuvenating. The hard work put in by the cast and crew of "Long Division" shined a light not only on the reality of world issues that people face every day, but also the unity that is still possible in these trying times.

Sean Gillen
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

Set amid the real-world chaos of an America simultaneously experiencing a pandemic and a sharp spike in racial tensions, Langley High School's recent production "Long Division" is a striking and somber reminder of the deeply human nature and impact these issues have. The show maturely examines the issues that currently plague society from the perspective of the actors involved, with individuals narrating their own experiences as monologues versus a script. Tasked with interpreting the phrase "long division," Langley's ensemble coalesces to present a show as profound as it is captivating.

The practice of composing a script from collaborative improvisation and reminiscence is referred to as "devised theatre" and was aptly demonstrated by the ensemble. The inclusion of personal anecdotes added a level of depth and authenticity and was an effective way to handle the series of somber issues the show sought to address. The scene "Hurricane," performed solely by Erin Kearns, was exemplary of the show's intimacy and maturity. Kearns recounted how, as a third grader, large swaths of her community were devastated by a hurricane, and how she and her family shared Thanksgiving dinner at a local community center to comfort others in a time of such hardship. Her dexterity not only as an actor but also as a writer was put on full display in an impressive contribution to the show's thoughtful tone.


The technical department, tasked with designing and arranging the show's visuals while still abiding by social distancing protocols, skillfully and cleverly rose to the occasion. The production's impact was not lost on the audience due in large part to the technical prowess of Conard Racich and Elizabeth Tippens, the two editors who assembled the separate parts of the show. They aptly chose specific footage to mirror parts of the script, providing a polished backdrop for the ensemble's profound observations. Additionally, their shared ingenuity allowed for Langley to seamlessly overcome the constraints of having to film at home, adding a sense of unity and togetherness in a time of isolation.

The ensemble as a whole demonstrated wisdom beyond their years as they navigated the most grave and pertinent of topics. Uniquely personal, crisply presented, and above all, heartfelt, Langley High School's "Long Division" is sure to both enthrall and enlighten audiences.

Lena Weiman
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

Does space or separation bring us closer together or drive us further apart? Find out in Langley's "Long Division," a moving exploration of the many divisions in our world today and how we cope and adapt to them.

"Long Division" is a piece of devised theater, completely written and directed by Langley students, and filmed and edited into a moving short film. They separated into two groups and collaborated to write two separate pieces that encompassed their interpretations of the phrase "long division." Each piece said so much on its own, but together they brought a cohesive message under one common theme.

The first group, Group A, focused more on emotional division. This piece explored personal conflict through a quarrel between friends, a stubborn family member, and a political divide, but it also ended with hope that humanity can overcome these divisions and improve.

A standout moment in this piece was the scene titled "Covid" in which a voice-over described a monotonous routine of waking up, brushing teeth, going to school, in a never-ending loop. The actors in this scene - Claire Fulton, Kendall Wilson, Conard Racich, Christina Barton, Eli Roberts, Julia Toloczko, Cristina Sayegh, Miky Kassem, Lindsay Muangman, Tiffany Bennett, Hannah Toronto, and Thalia Eid - truly portrayed the monotony and dreary repetition of quarantine that is relatable and topical.

The element that brought this section together was the phenomenal editing. The use of stock footage throughout the piece tied the whole segment together, and the sound mixing was fantastic. Editor Conard Racich used a perfect combination of voice-over, sound effects, and music to really enhance the piece.

The second group, Group 1, focused on the relationship between emotional distance and physical distance. It contained complex thoughts about the meaning of the word "division" and personal anecdotes connected to the theme. It explored how people maintain meaningful connections and relationships even with physical distance.

A standout scene in Group 1's project was the segment titled "Time Apart." In this scene, a couple, Devran Johnson and Elizabeth Tippens, reflected on the effect that quarantine has had on their new relationship. One line in particular stood out: "As the world grew farther apart, we grew closer together." This poignant statement summed up the message of this piece so beautifully, and their moving anecdote emphasized their point.

Overall, "Long Division" was a refreshing interpretation of the concept of division, and an extremely creative format of theater. Each scene was so personal and unique, but it all came together to deliver a beautiful message: no matter how divided we may seem, we are never alone.

Elliot Baird
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Connection

"What separates us?" asked the opening line of Langley High School's "Long Division." This was the question the show grappled with, and it led to answers both evocative and troublesome, as well as hopeful and uplifting.

"Long Division" was conceived by Langley's theatre class as a reaction to the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. It is a work of devised theatre, meaning the show was conceived, written, and performed collaboratively by an ensemble. It centered on themes of unity and division during the pandemic and our tense political climate.

The student-produced script told honest, moving stories that were incredibly pertinent to our time. They were relatable and spoke very true to the experience of today's American teen, but also to a broader human experience of the balance between division and connection.

The show was held up by a series of earnest, truthful performances from the large ensemble. Every cast member gave dedicated, polished performances. One notable performance was that of Conard Racich in his voice-over work, using a droning monotone that spoke perfectly to the endless tediousness of online school. Another was Elizabeth Tippens and Devran Johnson's chemistry, which made the distance of acting virtually between them seem nonexistent.

What really brought the piece to life was its flawless editing by Conard Racich, Elizabeth Tippens, and Celeste Deale. They used stock footage and clips of news broadcasts to illustrate the events the script discussed, and created a sleek, professional-looking product that was also deeply emotional and moving. They also manipulated the actors' voices and added sounds and music to incredible dramatic effect. Their work truly took advantage of the recorded form, using it to make a show completely unlike what could be performed live.

Langley High School's "Long Division" shined a light on the problems facing our society today, but also provided a hopeful look at how we can move forward from here.

Emma Berver
Washington-Liberty High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

It was quite a feat that the pandemic circumstances that have kept us apart and the "technology Zoom boxes" that have at times depersonalized and dehumanized us for 12 months were used in Langley High School's timely, collaborative production, "Long Division," to rebuild that community solidarity and reflect on common emotions.

"Long Division" is an important work of devised theater created by Langley High School to highlight high schoolers' perspectives on the events of last year. Through emotional anecdotes, a variety of opinions, and montages of familiar, yet haunting, news clips, the cast tackled some of the most divisive issues of our time, such as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on school and friendships, the difficulties in discussing recent events like the Black Lives Matter movement with family members with different political beliefs, and the circumstances of being a student in America today.

The writing was so heartfelt and relatable due to the incredible collaborative effort by the cast, who included their own stories in the script. Every line and existential question they posited seemed familiar and encapsulated a struggle from this year, such as: "How do we maintain meaningful connections when we are distanced from each other?" The anecdotes of honesty and depth contributed to the thoughtful discussion this show provided on important issues. One of the more personal reflections, "Time Apart," wonderfully told by Devran Johnson and Elizabeth Tippens, examined how the pandemic first made students grow closer in our relationships and make more of an effort to spend time together but by the summer it became difficult to maintain. The actresses' chemistry made this anecdote feel more meaningful.

The main reason "Long Division" felt so refreshing was because of the superb work by the technical team to change up the standard "Zoom format" of virtual performances through the inclusion of montages, voice-overs, and engaging news footage and images. This was best executed in the segment on what a day in the life of attending virtual school is like. The echoing voice-overs by Kendall Wilson and Conard Racich repeated the day's movements with "wake up, brush my teeth, eat something if I'm not too tired, open my laptop to begin a strenuous 7 hours" over and over again. The montage of overlapping clips fading together of these tasks captured the feeling of doing your routine ad nauseam that most of us have encountered this year.

Another aspect of the structure that had a profound effect was the use of news clips from events like the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and footage from the ER during the pandemic. Seeing the news clips was effective in bringing the audience right back to how they felt when watching them live. The combined editing efforts of Conard Racich, Elizabeth Tippens, and Celeste Deale were ultimately successful in creating an innovative, but continually cohesive, structure for the performance.

Overall, "Long Division" was an authentic and deep exploration of what it is like to be a teenager in 2020, but Langley's conclusions can resonate with everyone, young or old. This show was the perfect antidote to a case of quarantine fatigue or hopelessness, as by the end of the performance you were left with one thought: I am not alone.