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Sumner High School students take themselves back to ‘1984’

By Avani Nadkarni/of The Herald

The Sumner High School drama group mostly consists of comedic and musical actors, so teacher Rachel Street’s latest selection, a production of George Orwell’s “1984,” has been quite a challenge.

“I’ve done musicals ... this is my first straight show,” said 15-year-old lead Austin Heatherly, who plays main character Winston. “This is tough. It’s a challenge.”

Still Street, who’s been at Sumner High School for five years, was determined to put on this show, which tells the story of Orwell’s fictional future world where Big Brother controls the thoughts and actions of the people.

“There’s so many different political things happening right now ... it makes the kids look at their world,” Street explained. “It’s a good teaching tool. The kids had to read the book and make it come alive.”

Acting in the play was an especially important experience for 17-year-old senior Katheryn Bracken, who has been in a handful of Sumner High School plays.

“I used to be off-the-wall, crazy,” she said. “It’s helped me center myself and see how people are influenced by others’ actions, by our government, by our community.”

As serious as the play is, Heatherly said he couldn’t resist putting a bit of his comedic roots into the main character. While he tried to glean Winston’s smaller characteristics — such as a limp from a disease that isn’t mentioned in the play — he said he also tries to lighten the mood at times.

“In the book, it seemed that Winston wasn’t outgoing,” Heatherly said. “I tried to add a little bit of a comic twist to him.”

Getting into character was also tough for 15-year-old freshman Delaney Hanon, who plays a larger woman in her late 60s. To rehearse a scene where she gives a monologue while climbing up stairs, Street, a fan of method acting, made her jog in place or jump up and down from a chair to practice sounding out of breath. Hanon also dons a cushy fat suit to complete her transformation into a hefty, older woman.

“I took aspects of my own grandma and other people I know to get (into the character of) that batty, crazy older woman who’s actually really smart,” Hanon said.

Street realized that “1984” has been read and loved by generations and wanted to make the production a community affair. Following one of the performances, the Feb. 6 matinee, community leaders such as Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow, Sumner School District Superintendent Gil Mendoza, Sumner/Bonney Lake police departments’ deputy Danna Powers and Sumner-area pastor Kim Latterell, will host a panel discussion for the community.

“We wanted to bring the community in and talk about who are we, where are we, who is this Big Brother,” Street said.