Youthful cast, crew for ‘Sarah’

Suzie Harrison

At Tuesday’s dress rehearsal for Laguna Playhouse’s youth production

“Sarah, Plain and Tall,” which opens today, the mood was upbeat

despite the fact that it will be youth director Joe Lauderdale’s last

production, after nearly two decades at the Playhouse.

Nicolas Leighton, 11, of Laguna, plays one of the leads in the

cast of 10, which includes six adults and four youths. He was aptly

dressed in overalls for the play, set on a Kansas farm circa 1910.

Nicolas felt honored that Lauderdale called him to audition, and

appreciates the opportunities he has given him.

“I’m Caleb, a very energetic farm boy. Whatever happens, I always

have a positive attitude,” Nicolas said. “The play is about this

family in Kansas. My father, Jacob, advertises for a wife. The ad is

answered by Sarah Wheaton from Maine. My mother died at childbirth

after she had me.”

Nicolas said his character connects with Sarah, while his sister,

Anna, has some apprehension. He declined to tell what happens because

he wants people to come to see the play.

“It’s really fun. I spend a lot more time on stage because of the

small cast of 10,” Nicolas said. “I have 174 lines and started

rehearsing in February.”

One of his challenges was using a different dialect.

“I have to speak with a Kansas farm dialect,” Nicolas said. “It

was hard, but I eventually pulled it off.”

He marveled at the costumes and sets.

“The costumes are great; men wear overalls and Sarah changes and

wears overalls,” Caleb said. “She wears overalls but women aren’t

supposed to; they’re supposed to wear dresses.”

Nicolas called the sets “amazing.”

“The windmill I have to climb up there; when I get up there I want

to come down,” he said. “It’s mostly set outside but has some scenes

inside.”

The weather was described as variable, but also prone to tornados

like in the “Wizard of Oz,” he said.

Nicolas liked the play’s message.

“It’s trying to say, no matter who you are or where you are, you

can do what you want to do if you give everything a chance,” he said.

Taryn Dicterow, 15, also from Laguna, is the assistant stage

manager. Usually she acts, and found her new position educational.

“I have to make sure the cast is where it’s supposed to be,” Taryn

said. “I’m also doing “spike” -- putting the tape on the set so you

know where to put a set piece.”

The next time she’s an actor, she said, she’ll know better how

things work on the set, without asking the crew.

“It’s interesting to see both sides. I really like it,” Taryn

said. “I’ve wanted to do it for a couple of years. The next time I’m

in a show I’ll have a different empathy for the crew.”

Taryn said the main reason she enjoys doing Playhouse productions

is working with Lauderdale.

“He’s such a good director. He takes a play and has a totally

different view than anyone else would have.” Nicolas said Lauderdale

is a great director.

“All of his productions have been phenomenal,” Nicolas said. “I

think he’s the best director; I feel terrible that he’s leaving.”

Lauderdale said the fact that this is his last production at the

Playhouse is very difficult.

“I have been at the Laguna Playhouse for 17 years,” Lauderdale

said. “It’s a big change; I have a lot of different emotions going

on, but sadness is the biggest one.”

“Sarah, Plain and Tall” will be performed at 7:30 today and on May

13; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and May 17 and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday and

May 15. Tickets are $19 for adults and $16 for children. Laguna

Playhouse is at 606 Laguna Canyon Road. For tickets or information,

call (949) 497-ARTS.