Kaitlyn West performs for Up the Down Staircase

Redwood’s 2019 Fall Play Up the Down Staircase is being performed October 9,10 and 12th in the Rotary Theater at 7pm and 2pm on the 12th.

Up the Down Staircase, directed by Mrs. Galvan, demonstrates relationships between teachers and students in a delinquent school where mostly troubled students attend. School equipment is run down, teachers are overworked, and paperwork is sky high.

Kaitlyn West ’20 plays the lead role of a teacher named Sylvia who attempts to get her students to care about their educations while also making them respect her as an adult. She comes in the first day energized then realizes she has a battle that she will probably lose. She considers other opportunities to change to a school that would be less stress but chooses to stay for Joe one of her students.

Joe, played by Osvaldo Gonzalez ’20 is a troubled kid, who is very intelligent yet doesn’t apply himself causing him to fail all his classes. He continues to deny help from Sylvia Barrett and he continues to believe that there is no future for himself.

Alice Blake played by Dinah Range ’21 plays a lovesick girl that has an extreme crush on Mr. Barranger, who is played by Garry Meek ’20 a poetic teacher that has a close relationship with Sylvia. She expresses her feelings in a letter to Mr. Barranger, which results in him reading the letter and upsetting her with corrections. Moments after Alice experiences a major accident.

Aidan Nankervis ’20 also a lead role in the Fall play, interprets a strict Vice Principal who tends to always pick on Sylvia for sticking up for her students or not doing her paperwork. He continues to think that punishment is key in learning and the protocol of paperwork is extremely important.

Up the Down Staircase, tells and interesting story that connects the audience with their own experiences of a school environment. It richly conveys the struggles both students and teachers have with each other and and the cast does an excellent job throughout the play.

Redwood’s top notch drama program really shines in this must see play.

Tickets are available in Room 15 with Mrs. Galvan or online at redwoodrangersdrama.ludus.com. $8 for a general admission, $12 reserved seating.