Acme Theater Company Presents: “The K of D”
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By Grace Richey,
Bluedevilhub.com Staff–
Light on her feet as she swiftly maneuvers around the nooks of the stage, Camilla Ortiz engulfs her audience without uttering almost a single word in the entire duration of the performance.
Ortiz, a junior at Davis High, is a proud member of Acme Theater Company’s winter show, “The K of D.” The production will run through Sunday, Jan. 12th at the Pamela Trokanski Dance Workshop.
The proclaimed “urban legend” circulates around the events in a close-knit, small town community following the death of Jimmy McGraw—the twin brother of Ortiz’s character Charlotte.
Left devastated by the loss of her brother, Charlotte is unable to reintegrate into the “pack” of other kids her age and resolves to refrain from speaking entirely. Although she is not considered an outcast, the people around her do not comprehend the amount of pain she feels due to the death of the one person she shared an incomparable connection with.
Though the vow may seem a bit dramatic, Ortiz agreed with her character’s justifications for not speaking. “She’s surrounded by people who are really unsupportive,” Ortiz said.
Coupling the inconsiderate nature of her peers, obliviousness of her parents and sexual harassment from her neighbor Johnny, Ortiz is compelled to understand Charlotte’s inner reasoning. Johnny is also responsible and unapologetic for her brother’s tragic death, witnessed by many of the other kids.
Charlotte quickly develops the reputation of having the “K of D,” or the “Kiss of Death,” wherein anyone, person or animal, immediately dies when she kisses them.
Several events revolve around the development of Charlotte’s repute, including the memorable firefly scene.
“The fireflies were really cool. They were little lights on fishing wire that would come down,” Ortiz said. “She would kiss it, and while kissing it would twist the bottom of it so that it would turn off and look life she was killing it,” she explained.
Yet this beautifully lit moment was more difficult to achieve than expected. “There was an incident where I couldn’t turn any of them off during the performance,” Ortiz said with a laugh.
To lighten the tone of the play, Jake Kelly, Tina Simpson and Sydney Maguire received their share of well delivered and humorous lines.
Also memorable to the keen eye was the delicate balance of lighting, set and sound design to draw the audience into the rural small-town fell of the show.
“This show, I think, works really well with this space, with heavily relying on sound and light,” said Artistic Director Emily Henderson. “The space is very small and intimate and so it’s well suited to the small cast that this production has.”
Stage Manager Eden Tomich shares the appreciation of the technical side of the production. “This is one of the most all inclusive shows that we have done like that where the set is very real,” she said.
With no drastic set changes, the scenery sent the vibe of simplicity coinciding with the rural setting.
Cole Yambrovich, along with the rest of the cast, participated in multiple crews that are essential to the show.
“I was set crew, and costume crew, and everybody in the cast is publicity,” he said.
Acme relies on cast member assistance to supply the hands needed in each crew department.
“The reason there is such a strong bond between the cast in crew is because there is no difference between cast and crew,” Assistant Stage Manager Kenya Oto said.
With such overlap between the two, there is a greater sense of shared appreciation for the efforts that both groups provide in producing a successful show.
Simpson portrays sassy, bubblegum-cigarette smoking, Becky Rae Voss in the show, but also is the Front of House manager and member of the Acme Council of Executives (ACE).
Noting the upcoming ACE elections in early February, Simpson mentioned her plan to run for Front of House manager again.
“This year is unusually because there are a lot of juniors on ACE. Usually there are more seniors. That said a lot of juniors who are currently holding positions will be running again,” she said.