An ‘odd little love story’ at MacArthur

Director Lisa Levenberg admits that this coming weekend’s play at MacArthur High School may be a little unusual for the high school stage, but she sees the show being a success. “David and Lisa” will be performed on Friday and Saturday nights.

“It’s an interesting show,” she said. “I hope it goes over well. It’s sort of like an odd little love story. It’s not a typical boy-meets-girl love story.”

The show centers around two students at a school for teenagers with psychiatric issues. It is based upon the movie that was released in 1962 and remade in 1998. Levenberg said she has modernized the script to removed some outdated references.

After doing a musical in the fall, Levenberg chose a straight drama for the spring production. With no choreography to worry about, she and the students have been able to focus more on the acting.

Rehearsals began in early February for the cast of 19. Levenberg said the students like the challenge of playing characters with emotional issues without exaggerating the parts.

Senior Kevin Wallace plays David, who suffers from severe obsessive compulsive disorder, has a fear of dying and hates being touched. This is his eighth play on the MacArthur High School stage.

“He’s a really good actor, extremely dedicated and I knew that he would put everything into it,” Levenberg said. “He really cares.”

Wallace explained that this is one of the most unique characters he has ever played. He said despite David’s emotional problems, the character is very intelligent and acutely aware of the world around him.

Lisa will be portrayed by junior Jenna Stillman, who is acting in just her second show at MacArthur. She said she embraces the opportunity to play a character with split personalities. Lisa is a little girl who speaks in rhymes, as well as an angry teenager who calls herself Muriel and only communicates through writing.

“She brings a lot of life to the character,” Levenberg said of Stillman.

Also in a lead role is sophomore Jared Schwartz, who plays Dr. Alan Swinford, a psychiatrist at the school. Levenberg said that he has the right personality to play a character who must be both sympathetic and authoritative.