Nelson drama team heads to state competition

Nelson County High School’s performance of “The Undercover Lover” earned it second place at the Virginia High School League Region B One Act Play Festival last weekend.

Seniors Ben Cunningham and Whitney Whalen won best actor awards at the regional level.

“I’m very proud of the way our Nelson kids seem to shine in my eyes every time they get on stage,” said Diana Driver, the Nelson County High School drama director. “They realize they have an opportunity and they go after it. They seem like professionals every time.”

There were eight high schools at the regional festival. The top two plays from each district were able to advance to regionals. Nelson won first place in its district festival on Nov. 5. Judging included three categories: acting, execution of direction and the ensemble.

The top two plays from each of the four regions will be performed at the Virginia High School League State One Act Festival on Dec. 5 at Monticello High School.

This year’s Nelson was decided by the class, which wanted a comedy and wanted to challenge themselves, said Driver. The play is an example of Kabuki, an exaggerated Japanese style of theater, so the students and Driver had to learn a new culture, songs and pronunciations.

In the play, Ukyo is in an unhappy marriage and falls in love with another woman when he goes off to fight in a war. When he returns he tells his wife he is going to pray but instead has his servant pray for him under a cloak while he goes to see the other woman. Unbeknownst to Ukyo, his wife takes the servant’s place and when Ukyo returns he ends up telling his wife about his adventures.

Nelson will represent Region B with Stuarts Draft, the Region B first place winner. The festival is free and open to the public. It begins at 10 a.m. and Nelson is scheduled to perform at 4:15 p.m.

This will be Nelson’s ninth trip to the state competition. The drama group won states the past two years and has also won second place in two previous appearances.

D.J. Crocker, a senior and the chorus leader in the play, remembers being part of the cast last year when Nelson took home the title and how nervous he was.

“I expect it to be a little more comfortable because I know what to expect, but nerve wracking none the less,” Crocker said. “We’re going to have a lot of good competition.”

Crocker said nerves are part of the excitement of being on stage and help contribute to the rush at the end of the performance.

“I really like being on stage,” he said. “I’ve been acting since I was in third grade. I like the energy and excitement. You get a little sweaty and nervous on stage sometimes but after, you breathe a sigh of relief.”

Like Crocker, Ben Cunningham also enjoys the excitement in the stage lights.

“It’s very bright and kind of nerve wracking but it’s pretty great,” said Cunningham, who is playing Ukyo, one of the leads in the play. “It’s pretty taxing on your nerves but when it’s done I look back on it and I’m like ‘I accomplished this.’”

He also said he is thrilled to go to states. This will be his first time for drama and he said he is excited to go with everyone in the cast and crew.

“We’re all in it together,” he said. “We wouldn’t be able to do it the same way without everyone involved.”

The 19 students participating in Nelson’s one act play are all members of Driver’s advanced drama class, which includes 10 th through 12 th graders. Thirteen performers and six students work back stage. Everyone had to audition to be accepted into the class, Driver said.

Driver’s preparation for the play began last December after the state festival. She said she spends about eight months each year reading and going to plays so she can compile a selection for the class to read through and choose in the fall when school begins.

She said they are always looking for something new and interesting to do.

“We’ve never done the same thing twice,” Driver said. “I’m learning something new and they’re learning something new so we’re all in it together.”

NCHS Principal Todd Weidow said he enjoys watching the students perform and was proud of their performance over the weekend.

“The students performed very well,” he said. “It is an amazing level our students in drama perform. They are a great credit to our school.”