Smiling

It's half past midnight in the library right now. They just shifted the hours so that the building stays open until 2 am. Soon it will be open 24 hours for exams. I'm seeing people I don't usually see here this late, and you can feel their stress. But I'm smiling because I'm almost done with everything for the semester. And the stress here is nothing compared with the stress of the real world. It's amusing to watch some of these students cram and rush.

Stop Kiss, a play by Diana Son, hit the stage last week. I saw it on Friday night. Once again, our theater department displayed some great talent. It was truly an enjoyable experience.

Bravo to the director, student Sarah Lipham, for selecting a story that should challenge people's beliefs. Though the play contained a few four letter words and some adult themes, it was not obscene. Stop Kiss raised concerns about some controversial issues. A few people laughed during the play at inappropriate times-- but then they realized it. This is what you want when you are trying to get them to see issues in a new light.

The two lead actresses also did a great job. "Callie," played by senior Hannah Case and "Sara," played by junior Stacie Wilson, worked well together on stage. A scene where they try to coax a cat named Caesar out to sleep on the bed with Sara is hilarious. And later, the scenes at the hospital were both sad and touching. Each actress showed a maturity beyond their years with the depth they brought to such dynamic roles.

So, to everyone involved with the production, thank you. I enjoyed the evening and afterwards spent a lot time considering what the play meant. I hope to see the director and cast in future productions at WCU.

Until next time,

Nathan Marshburn