Students in character for 'Romeo and Juliet'

A THOUSAND TIMES GOOD NIGHT- Duke Roberts and Aubrey Pevsner play the star-crossed lovers in Agoura High School's production of "Romeo and Juliet" from Feb. 20 to 23. The student actors at Agoura High School are trying different techniques to prepare for their roles in the school's upcoming production of "Romeo and Juliet."

Sophomore Duke Roberts, who plays Romeo, says he tried to spend time off-stage with the play's Juliet because the actors didn't know each other before rehearsal began.

"Romeo" is Robert's second play as an actor and his first major role. He previously built sets and handled lighting for other shows. He had never considered acting until a student took sick in another production and the director asked Roberts to step in. Roberts enjoyed his taste of fame: "Why can't everyone clap for me?" he said.

But he auditioned for "Romeo" only because his girlfriend signed him up for tryouts. He didn't know that he was cast until his friends told him.

Roberts got into character by watching the 1996 "Romeo and Juliet" movie and also by listening to sad songs, because, as Roberts said, "Romeo whines a lot." He said he can relate to Romeo's frequent mood swings that are typical of most teenage boys. At times Roberts will catch himself acting like the character offstage, and he'll say, "I'm being very Romeo today."

Student Lida Darmian faces a different acting challenge. She plays Mercutio, a male role. She says she prepped for the part by watching the physical characteristics of men- how they walk and stand- and trying to adopt their mannerisms. She lowers her voice for the role and also tries to take on what she calls "a guy's confidence." Darmian says playing the role is a learning experience and "gave me new insights into the character."

Junior Jeremy Middleton uses a mental approach for his role of Friar Lawrence. He asked himself, "What would I feel like in that role?" He also uses some of the acting techniques he learned in the high school's theater class, such as emotional recall, which involves remembering an event from his life to generate a specific feeling.

Middleton also draws on his previous acting experience, which includes other drama events at the high school and the social awareness plays produced by the school's theater class.

These plays show scenes from real life to inform and teach a lesson. The class presents the plays during the school day for the other students.

Junior Aubrey Pevsner is no stranger to the Bard. Last summer she performed in "A Midsummer's Night Dream" at a camp in Connecticut. She said that Shakespeare's language is really beautiful and "difficult at first, but once you understand it, it has great meaning."

She said she enjoys the role of Juliet because she had studied the play previously and is taking a deeper look into the text. She said the play is "an old story, a universal kind of love," and the story shows that one can "break through hate with love."

The students are learning sword fighting for the play from AHS French teacher John Carpenter, who is an active fencer.

Guiding the actors is theater arts teacher Tina Lehne, who is settling into her first year at AHS. She previously taught English and theater at a high school in San Jose. She came to Agoura because she was looking for a full-time teaching position in theater and was impressed by the school's enthusiasm and involvement in drama.

Lehne has a bachelor's degree in theater from USC and a master's degree in educational theater from New York University.

Lehne said AHS hasn't presented Shakespeare in a while. "Romeo" was a good choice because the school's freshmen English classes had studied the play. Her goal is to direct a Shakespeare play at least every other year.

"It's easy for me to direct Shakespeare," Lehne said. "I've always understood it and have studied it in depth. I love ("Romeo and Juliet"). It's one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I have so many talented students I felt they could really pull it off."

The public is invited. Curtain time is 7 p.m. Thurs. through Sat., Feb. 20 to 23 at the school's G Building, 28545 W. Driver Ave., Agoura Hills. Tickets are $5 to $9.