Cappies Review of Airness at McLean High School
Fairfax County Public Schools students are talented actors, musicians, and visual artists. Many FCPS high schools participate in the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Critics and Awards Program for High School Theatre, otherwise known as the Cappies.
The Cappies is a program through which high school theater and journalism students are trained as critics, attend shows at other schools, write reviews, and publish those reviews in local newspapers. There are fifteen Cappies chapters across the United States and Canada.
Editor's Note: This review of McLean High School's production of Airness is written by Amelia Preble of Robinson Secondary School.
The moment you step through the door of the black box theatre, you are no longer in a high school. A slight haze and dim lighting illuminate a bar, covered in distinct personal details and complete with a working root beer tap. McLean High School's Airness pulled audiences to a new world for two hours of competition, classic rock, and camaraderie.
Airness, a 2017 play by Chelsea Marcantel, followed the story of Nina, a young woman who entered an air guitar competition. She met a lovable group of misfit competitors and was swept into the world of competitive air guitar. The show was full of both comedic and poignant acting opportunities, as well as potential for outstanding rock-themed tech. McLean took advantage of all these opportunities and exceeded expectations on each one.
The show revolved around five core actors- the air guitarists. Nina (Jackie Stoll) joined Shreddy Eddie (Charlotte Carson), Golden Thunder (Arielle Else), and Facebender (Jack Abba) as they traveled around the country, vying for a spot in the upcoming national championship and hoping to achieve "airness." The eccentric group brought energy and pure joy to the show, moving the story forward as a tight-knit group while maintaining clear individuality. By the end, the group also included The Nina and Cannibal Queen (Idil Erdogan), who both brought distinct personalities that challenged the norms of the group. The five actors were truly an ensemble, never upstaging one another and always supporting the group as a whole.
Each individual embodied a distinct character and took every chance to demonstrate their unique skills as an actor. Stoll portrayed a complex and dynamic character with a sense of maturity that is rare for high school theatre. Else consistently upheld the energy and humor that anchored this show, bringing perfectly executed comedic relief to even the most serious moments of the show. Abba maintained a near-constant comedic tone for the show's first act before reaching a major point of vulnerability in the second, demonstrating true versatility, a feat achieved by few actors.
The technicians behind the production showed their skill through attention to detail and extensive background research. Vivian Kreeb, Haidyn Brockelman, and Chris Tillotson succeeded in meeting the show's demands and created a detailed set in the round. The set was primarily a bar, but the decorations continued around the entire space. Every inch of every set piece and wall was decorated with countless small details, enhancing the distinct sense of personality and community that this production excelled in. Equally impressive were the costumes (Kyrsten Lewey and Bri Zawicki) and the hair and makeup (Sabrina Beadie, Erin Sharpe, and Emery Graninger). Both groups clearly did their homework, pulling inspiration from rock legends like Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie, as well as referencing the script itself, using Joan Jett as inspiration for Nina and the Ramones for Shreddy Eddy.
Airness was a thrilling showcase of both acting and technical prowess but was truly brought together by the love and care of a tight-knit community. With the persistent skill and effort put in by each student involved, it seems as if McLean itself truly achieved airness.
