Hey, Stranger
at Langley High School

Reviewed on February 19, 2021

Rebecca Connor
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Loneliness is something we all experience from time to time, now more than ever. It is something we are taught to avoid, that relationships and conversations with others are what bring meaning to our lives. Langley High School's production of Hey, Stranger challenges this idea, providing a brilliant commentary on human existence and the beauty that can be found in being alone.

Quarantined in houses and apartments, COVID-19 has done little but drive the world apart and expose inequities that become even more glaring in the midst of a global pandemic. But in Steph Del Rosso's Hey, Stranger, the new reality of isolation and video calls offers a change at reconnection. Eve and Gideon's relationship fizzled out some time ago with a fiery bang, the two exes then heading their separate ways. That is, until a text from Gideon, out of the blue. The two former partners are forced to reconcile their expectations and memories of one another, as well as their relationship to the world around them.

Hannah Toronto brought a beautifully awkward charm to the role of Eve, her vulnerability clear in every syllable. Her struggle with loneliness was incredibly clear, both in Eve's small mannerisms and well-timed pauses that conveyed just as much meaning as the text itself. The conversation between Eve and Cole Sitilides as Gideon crafted a clear relationship between the two characters, with both actors executing well timed breaks and interruptions that helped bring the technical difficulties the characters experienced to life.

Gideon's brash arrogance was fully embodied in his laid-back posture and the demeaning tone with which he spoke to Eve. His conversation with Zoe, Eve's teenage tutoring client who interrupted their video call, helped to create an even more accurate portrayal of an entitled man. The dynamic between Zoe and Gideon was incredibly realistic, playing on both age and gender roles. Claire Stephenson in the role of Zoe brought righteous outrage to the show, helping to provide contrast to the antagonistic Gideon. Her breathless intonation and close positioning to the camera indicated her strong feelings on the subject of equality, contrasting sharply with the more traditional and physically laid-back Gideon.

The technical choices made by the cast contributed to the power of the show. Eve was lit with a cool toned light that contrasted with the warmer tones of Gideon's lighting, each hue carefully reflecting the personality of the characters. The camera angles used to show the characters also helped to further illustrate their dynamics, with Eve looking up at the camera while Gideon faced more downwards, helping to imply a relationship in which Gideon held most of the power. Small details included in the setting behind each character also contributed to their development, such as the provocative painting placed carefully behind Gideon and created by Cole Sitilides. By isolating the cameras of characters who had monologues, a more intimate relationship between them and the audience was created, helping to create a strong final scene as Eve realizes her relationship to loneliness is not quite as fraught as she believed.

In a show that demonstrated the importance of reconnecting with oneself, each cast member demonstrated their ability to connect with and tell the story of their characters, both through expressions and dialogue as well as careful tech details. And by the end of the show, a timely and poignant message was delivered to the audience: being alone is what you make of it.

Aren Iverson
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Alone. For our society, which values appearance within social interaction, this state of being is often seen as a mark of the lesser-than. However, the COVID pandemic has forcibly isolated humankind, causing a cultural re-evaluation of what being alone, and even what being part of a group, means. Last Friday "Hey Stranger", performed by Langley High School, masterfully explored these concepts while maintaining the truth that ideas on culture are shouldered by real people.

Published in 2020, this play (crafted by acclaimed playwright Steph Del Rosso) was designed with the new theatre medium--virtual performances--in mind. It is part of a collection of ten original works by various playwrights, each focusing on some aspect of "the delights and frustrations of staying connected" (Dramatists Play Service Inc). This particular piece centered on a call between ex-lovers, Eve and Gideon. Though Eve was under the impression that they were reconnecting romantically, Gideon soon reveals he conned her onto the call in an attempt to get a good review for his struggling business. Unexpectedly, we are introduced to Zoe, Eve's tutee who mistakenly joins the call. Her forceful opinions immediately clash with Gideon's self-absorption. This conflict is backdropped by Eve's mental exploration of feeling cursed by isolation, to then finding herself among this seclusion.

In order to do justice to such an emotionally complex show, the individual actors needed to understand their characters as three-dimensional lives. Not only did the cast of "Hey Stranger" demonstrate their innate ability to do this, but they also used this understanding to become their characters wholly. Hannah Toronto (Eve) perfectly portrayed her character's internal struggle. She used her eyes as a window to her pain, even if the rest of her face was masking it with other emotions. Toronto also provided a unique way for the audience to see Eve's feelings. She repeatedly drank from a wine glass, but altered the way she drank each time depending on Eve's mood. Cole Sitilides took on Gideon with ease, exhibiting the power-hungry, cutthroat traits of his character through unapologetic movement and emotional grandstanding. Claire Stephenson (Zoe) delivered her monologue skillfully, employing vocal tone and pitch to emphasize her character's wit and devotion to what she was discussing, while also showing glimmers of Zoe's youth.

As a whole, this cast's dynamic was so natural that some audience members noted they couldn't tell the difference between the performance and real life. They manipulated the spacing and beats between lines to create the awkwardness needed at the beginning of the play, and later the tension and heat when Gideon and Zoe begin to argue. Additionally, they reacted to what one another was saying in the moment, rather than relying on their knowledge of the script, which grounded the performance.

Though the notion of set, lighting, and costumes seems almost ironic within the limits of a 5 x 3 camera box, the production designers of "Hey Stranger" (Cole Sitilides, Hannah Toronto, and Claire Stephenson) proved that creativity can prevail amongst any circumstances. Eve's room housed a large bookshelf and was lit with cool bulbs, in sharp contrast to Gideon's proudly displayed certificates and self-created artwork that were bathed in a warm glow. These choices subtly heightened the divergence between Eve's more introverted and self-possessed personality versus Gideon's brashness and sense that worth comes from what others think of you. Additionally the costumes helped define characters, case in point being the fact that Zoe's closet consisted of a workout headband and a sweatshirt--clothing stereotypically known as teenage chic.

With "Hey Stranger", Langley High School assembled a bewitching show that used theatre to expose the humanity behind societal expectations.

Nhi Nguyen
Annandale High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

"Hey Stranger." A phrase defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary as "said to a person that you know but have not seen for a long time." Or, from its rival's perspective - "when you receive, or send a message [on facebook] from someone you have hooked up with or had a relationship in the past or wanted to but didn't have the opportunity." Which meaning does this play produced by Langley choose to emulate? The story of Eve and Gideon seems to be a fascinating culmination of both - past lovers reuniting years after a messy breakup, but with vastly different intentions. And one outspoken high schooler by the name of Zoe.

"Hey Stranger" is a new play written by Steph del Rosso - part of a collection of plays written for the new reality of online theatre. As such, it is adapted for the Zoom format that is common among many theatrical productions at this time. With a cast of only three actors, it is a very intimate play, which in turn helped make its core messages of loneliness, isolation, and autonomy ring all the more clearly. Standing as a quarantine play, it promises to be a bold address to the pandemic and its impact on society - tackling all the issues listed prior and more: issues that could be relatable to many, as we live amidst a global pandemic.

The character Eve was played by senior Hannah Toronto, Gideon by senior Cole Sitilides, and Zoe by junior Claire Stephenson.

The Hey Stranger cast did an excellent job in taking advantage of the nuances of the online environment. To express that a character was alone, either mentally or physically, such as during Eve's first monologue, the production used the screen layout feature provided by video conferencing software. Common problems with communicating over a distance are represented throughout the entirety of the play - real, as with the occasional audio/video delay, or artificially created by the characters: such as when Gideon claimed to have not heard Eve's monologue about loneliness due to a frozen screen. Each cast member did their own costuming and set design - with clothing and sets that helped represent their age differences: i.e. Zoe's typical high schooler sweatband and t-shirt and Gideon's office backdrop.

The positioning of the camera helps demonstrate the roles of Eve and Gideon in their relationship - while Eve looked up at the camera, Gideon was looking down, representing a slight power imbalance. The fierce argument between an impassioned and articulate Zoe and Gideon seemed to accentuate his sexism, aside from how he hoped to take advantage of Eve for a good review for his business. He also diminished Eve at every turn: for example, associating himself with a booming business and Eve with "working with dogs." Eve, on the other hand, was a character who grew from a person afraid of loneliness to one who realized it is ok to be alone sometimes.

Langley High School's production of Hey Stranger received unanimous superior ratings from the VTA adjudication panel, with Hannah Toronto receiving a Best Actress' recognition. It was easy to see the prowess of these young actors as they navigated a work that expressed the issues of loneliness, miscommunication, and isolation that are associated with online communication - while questioning other relevant issues with society today. As for questioning, here are some to consider after the show: "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" and "who are we all really behind the screen?"

Cecil Turner-Veselka
Loudoun Valley High School
Submitted for publication to Patch (Fairfax/Alexandria)

If a Zoom call begins, and the participants can't hear each other - did it ever really take place? Quarantine has released a hurricane of philosophy in everyone. Stuck in the midst of it all, three actors set out to untangle a few of our thoughts for us. Hey, Stranger! is a seventeen-minute play by Steph Del Rosso, formatted around a virtual meetup between Eve and Gideon, two people clumsily reunited after a violent breakup and a long time apart. Their dynamic was charged, and the chaos added by the appearance of Eve's student Zoe made the whole experience difficult for Eve, who was looking for some connection to combat the isolation. The script attempted to address the quagmire of pandemic mentality, dredging up themes from loneliness to sexism with a blunt but truthful hand.

Langley High School's production handled their hefty script with ease. Hannah Toronto brought a capable, subtle Eve. She embodied her character in every detail, down to the smallest shift of her gaze. Her monologue, in the early part of the play, was delivered with such poignancy that it became personal to the listener as much as it was to Eve. Each moment was brimming with imagery through which Toronto danced effortlessly, drawing such a vivid portrait of someone longing for a purpose in her emptiness. Although she had less of the dialogue than her counterpart, every quiet, internal moment she had was clear and resolute. She was not the loudest or the boldest, but Toronto glowed with individuality.

Eve's ex-boyfriend, Gideon, was a painfully recognizable depiction of male privilege. Cole Sitilides played him with all the nonchalance and bravado of a man who is convinced of his superiority, and yet none of his menace is overdone. Sitilides took up space: in his environment, in the call, in the conversation, all while he doled out punches towards both Eve and Zoe in a deceptively conversational tone. This, added to his whiplash conversational timing, made for a concise and familiar image. Everyone knows a Gideon, and Sitilides is no exception.

The youngest and most outspoken of the trio, Claire Stephenson's Zoe, is a precocious fourteen-year-old ready to do battle against the world. Zoe explains the English thesis Eve is helping her with in a meaty and intellectually complex speech, which manages to be both pointedly true and thematically flawed. Stephenson measured it out for the audience's consumption with a practiced self-assurance that made her ideas seem obvious, balancing a blatant childishness that made her stand out from the adults with the mature, outraged defense of a woman who is tired of justifying herself to men. There was an open reality to Zoe that struck deep.

Not only did Langley's show feel honest, but it also looked the part as well. With costumes and set designed by the actors themselves, from Eve's simple yet elegant low-necked shirt and glittery earrings to the obnoxiously male painting of Gideon's wife, also painted by Sitilides, the idea abounded that what was being presented was a piece of the actors' lives. It is difficult to remember that there are other people filling space in the world too, and Hey, Stranger! opened a little window to remind us that we are not alone, and that the feeling will pass. Some people are not what we want them to be, some experiences not as good, but if a tree falls, there is always someone there to hear it. And one day, we will be out of the forest.

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

When a tree falls in a forest and you're the only one to hear it, would you be believed? Or would you want to keep the secret beauty of solitude to yourself? Langley High School's reimagined interpretation of awkward reunions and new beginnings, Hey, Stranger, revealed the duality of isolation while breaking the "excruciatingly mediocre" loneliness of the world.

Hey, Stranger, recently written by Steph Del Rosso, explored the intricacies of human connection. Years after their messy breakup, Eve and Gideon seemingly drifted apart indefinitely. Until, one late night text from Gideon spurred a reunion video call with the pair having wildly different perceptions of the meeting's intentions. Gideon's thinly veiled derogatory commentary and self-centered attitude derail what Eve thought was a relationship rekindling happy hour. Between reliving her heartbreak, an unexpected visit from her tutee, Zoe, and an impromptu dissection of Virginia Woolf's writings, Eve re-evaluates her feelings about being alone.

Eve (Hannah Toronto) and Gideon (Cole Sitilides) were never fated to be together; empathetic Eve is overshadowed by Gideon's brutish nature, which he uses to mask his insecurities. Toronto wholeheartedly personifies the pain of rejection and characterizes a young woman realizing her own autonomy. Toronto breathed life into not only her character, but her emotions as well. Her monologues about loneliness became real, transfixing audiences into their own philosophical stupors. Meanwhile, Sitilides cut through Toronto's serious overtones with brazen conversation, the embodiment of a broken, self-engrossed man. Their complex interactions created a dichotomy demonstrative of a broken relationship.

With all the awkwardness of seeing an ex, Toronto and Sitilides perfectly encapsulated the anxious attempts at new beginnings. Through perfect pacing, the pair navigated anxiety, miscommunication, and harsh realities. Toronto's quiet hurting was highlighted in every action - a beautiful contrast to Sitilides' overtly arrogant attitude.

The precocious Zoe (Claire Stephenson) proved a perfect foil to Gideon's façade of a man. Brash, opinionated, and arrogant, Stephenson prodded at the soft underbelly of Sitilides' bravado, resulting in a perfect underscoring of their respective worst qualities. Most incredible of all, however, were the complex relationships between the three characters. Working in perfect harmony, the cast produced the effect of a real video call that the audience interrupted.

The technical prowess of the production matched its character counterpart, even adding more to the scene than solely the dialogue. With such a small cast, attention to detail appeared through the set dressing and costumes. Eve possessed a more refined look as if she was going on a date, while Gideon wore business attire as he tried to get clients for his chiropractor business. Items of importance were carefully placed to further illustrate their personalities. Gideon's wall hangings boasted a painting of his wife and a certificate, while Eve had meaningful pictures and bookcases. Additionally, framing of the pair created a power dynamic descriptive of their relationship - Gideon looking down on Eve.

The use of technical difficulties in a virutal age allowed a variety of lenses to be applied to the production's overarching theme of isolation. Eve's monologues about loneliness were met with the disappearance of her castmates, demonstrating the crushing solitude she experienced. This framing allowed her monologues to act as soliloquies that wove the theme throughout the production.

This carefully crafted performance was inspired by the ever-looming loneliness of today. While isolation seems suffocating, it's important to recognize its beauty in the moment. Langley's Hey, Stranger reminded audiences that being alone doesn't necessarily mean loneliness, but rather an opportunity for reflection.

Lila York
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

In a time where the pandemic has isolated humanity, how does one find solace? In perfect Zoom fashion, Langley High School's production of Hey Stranger tackled the question with which everyone has struggled.

Written by Steph Del Rosso, the play revolved around two high school sweethearts reconnecting after many years apart. From their initial awkwardness and, of course, technical difficulties, both Eve and Gideon reflected on the different paths their lives have taken since the end of their relationship. When the call is crashed by the vocal teenager and tutee Zoe, the trio erupted in chaos due to contrasting viewpoints and clashing personalities. With only three roles, the captivating production illuminated the various impacts isolation, and the loneliness that accompanies it, has on individuals.

With her hair styled neatly and a wine glass by her side, Eve (Hannah Toronto) was eager to reconnect with her presumably divorced ex-boyfriend. When the screen focused on just her for monologues, Toronto's expressions and pacing put meaning behind every line, highlighting the "kind of lonely that's infuriatingly mediocre" her character was experiencing. Yet, as an argument ensues, Toronto gracefully demonstrated how one's view of isolation can shift. At the beginning, through Toronto's realistic nervousness and inner monologues, she revealed how Eve, like many individuals, struggled with isolation. But as the story progressed, Toronto perfectly encapsulated Eve's shifting view of how isolation acted as an opportunity to reflect, relax, and find comfort in the peace found in being alone.

On the other side of the screen leaning back in his chair was Gideon (Cole Sitilides). While leading Eve on through his flirtatious manner and supposed divorce, Sitilides portrayed a successful chiropractor yearning to reconnect; yet throughout the play, Sitilides revealed Gideon's selfish acts to benefit his business and his belittling words to boost his ego. When the intelligent teenager Zoe (Claire Stephenson) joins the Zoom call for a tutoring session, the two clash, forcing Eve to be stuck in the middle. With her slight slouch and mannerisms, Stephenson embodied an outspoken teenager who does not tolerate sexist and demeaning remarks. Altogether, the three actors' pacing, witty remarks, and dynamics allowed for the production to be very realistic.

In addition to compelling performances, the technical aspects were equally amazing. Whether it was Zoe's practical bedroom setting, where most teenagers are doing their schoolwork, or Gideon's abstract painting hung on his wall, the set and props in each frame fully depicted each character. Moreover, the subtle technical elements highlighted their characters. At the start, Sitilides' camera was lower while Toronto's camera was higher, already signaling the power Gideon had over Zoe. Additionally, the contrasting lighting, Eve's cooler light and Gideon's warm lighting tone, furthered their dynamic. Along with accurate costumes, the technical elements added to the reality of the production.

Truly making the best of the app that everyone has become a little too familiar with during quarantine, Langley High School's production of Hey Stranger revealed that once one comes to terms with isolation, one can find the good in it. In isolation, one can observe the majestic trees of the woods, smell the moss, hear the thump of a tree falling, and feel the solace of finding oneself.

Sujay Khona
Chantilly High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Langley High School's Hey, Stranger is refreshing and effective comedy that explores the joys and limitations of virtual connection during Covid-19.

Hey, Stranger is a play written by Steph Del Russo as a part of set of shorts written for online theater for Music Theatre International. When Eve and Gideon reunite over a video call after a messy breakup, they are both expecting wildly different evenings. But mixed signals, bad internet, and a precocious high schooler create the hilarious and thought provoking short play that is Hey, Stranger.

The small, close-knit cast filled life into the script. Eve and Gideon's awkward reunion, complete with thoroughly relatable internet issues, felt all too real. As the show progressed their distinct characters took more shape, and more differences between their personalities became clear. Cole Sitilides expertly revealed Gideon's arrogance as his manly facade crumbled, and Hannah Toronto depicted the feeling of quarantine loneliness with an unnerving genuinity, through her breathtaking monologues and realistic characterizations. Claire Stephenson brought spunky high schooler Zoe to just the right level of likeable annoyance that complemented Hannah and Cole's characters well.

Although seemingly simple, the thoughtful technical elements elevated the show to a new level. The actors themselves were in charge of the tech elements, and their deep understanding of their characters was clear in the design of the show. Eve's dressy outfit and heavy makeup reflected her expectations of the call, as did Gideon's unimpressive clothing. Cole Sitilides created a painting for this show, that is featured behind him. It was placed such that it drew a wandering eye well to create deeper questions about the characters. As I watched this show, I began to forget that it was a show. The actors and the tech elements came together beautifully to create a real world, and the computer screen felt like an open window looking in. Langley High School's Hey, Stranger was a wonderful use of the virtual medium to tell thought provoking stories that could not have been possible otherwise, that will leave the audience stunned.

Sarah Khalil
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Old friends to new strangers, Hey Stranger is a play about 2 old flames who had a somewhat rocky ending. They reconnected over Zoom on what Eve thought was a virtual date, but things took a hard left turn, even before Eve's tutee, Zoe, joined their Zoom link.

Gideon, portrayed by Cole Sitilides, fronted as a very successful man. The costuming choice of a button up shirt and nice watch was very posh, and his framed degree in eyeshot was a nice touch. The ongoing pandemic has made us notice the accomplishments made by others and ourselves, more so than usual, so the view of Gideon definitely caught Eve's attention. He described his business as booming, and overall came off very smug. Eve, portrayed by Hannah Toronto, quickly realized that Gideon was married when she saw his painting of his wife, and their Zoom date was nothing of the sort.

Eve seemed happy with her current life situation, but she also wanted more. In an attempt to fill a gap in her life, she went on a date with her old flame Gideon. Hannah Toronto portrayed Eve's displeasure in learning about Gideon's success and marriage exquisitely.

The most interesting dynamic was not between the two main characters, but between Gideon and Eve's tutee, Zoe (portrayed by Claire Stephenson.) Cole Sitilides elegantly portrayed the facade of a man, Gideon, pretending to be something important. Zoe was a strong-minded 14-year-old girl who didn't buy it. Their age and gender differences came into play when she challenged him on all things social politics, to which his only response was that she was young and didn't know what she was talking about. Gideon often objectified women, from viewing his wife as an object to be painted, to viewing Eve as a means to an end, his good business review. He insulted Eve by not remembering her occupation, and he insinuated that her drinking wine was less than, because he was drinking coffee. He intended to hurt Eve with some of his words, like when he rudely mentioned how he missed who she used to be, not who she was now.

Towards the end of the play, Eve took a moment away from the other two to gain some peace and quiet. This was a really nice touch that accurately portrayed what it's like to socialize for too long after being by yourself for such a long, extended period of time. It also showed Eve that maybe she didn't need anything more in her life, and that she could be content alone.

The technical aspects of this show were subtle, precise, and beautifully executed. During any monologue, the other characters' faces veered off the screen while the speaker's window got larger, mimicking the effect of a spotlight. Additionally, the slow timing of the Zoom call, as well as the "wifi issues" helped emphasize the awkwardness of the call. The costuming choices also emphasized the character's overarching traits.

Hey Stranger accurately portrayed the awkwardness of communication during the pandemic, as well as how isolation has affected society.