Cappies Review: 'Long Division' at Langley High School

By Laura Jayne of Washington-Liberty High School

It is exhausting "living through a major historical event every five days." Police brutality, rampant spread of misinformation, attacks on our nation's democracy, and the endless pandemic have caused us all to question whether our nation will ever be able to heal. This is no stranger to Langley High School's theatre students who, in collaboration with Arena Stage, wrote a script to explore the meaning of "Long Division."

"Long Division" was performed by two groups. The first group weaved found footage and personal commentary together to react to major events in the past year. The latter narrative offered a series of candid responses on topics of connection, control, and what the future holds. While exploring worldwide conflicts to personal struggles, "Long Division" beautifully weaved voice-overs, skits, and monologues to present each student's thoughts unfiltered.

Though each perspective presented in "Long Division" offered insightful and relatable commentary, the performances of Lindsay Muangman, Conard Racich, and Siannen Keough were unforgettable. Muangman delivered a stirring monologue that captured her experience watching her parents brave the pandemic each day as healthcare workers. Her pain and hope reached through the screen to remind the audience how life on the front lines of the virus affected many families. Racich's stoic voice perfectly encapsulated the inescapable monotony of our daily lives during the pandemic. Specifically, the sequence when he responded to rules like, "Remember to share" and "Don't spend more than 2 hours on screens" were delightfully ironic. His deadpan look very accurately represented the disgust we share in the "new normal." As well, Keough shined in her appearance in the second part of "Long Division." The frustration she expressed at her new normal is nicely balanced with the regret she felt about complaining at all. The feelings she expressed truly resonate with the many people whose lives have not been dramatically affected by the pandemic but reminds them that it's okay to be upset as long as they are also thankful for what they still have.

The structure and editing of "Long Division" were truly refreshing. The montage format that used thought-provoking voice-overs to transition from segment to segment was a welcome break from Zoom-centric storylines. Editors Conard Racich and Elizabeth Tippens used sound design, shot assembly, and voice distortions to effectively communicate the seemingly endless and hopeless nature of quarantine. As well, organizing the clips into different thematic segments and forging visual links between them created a very clear narrative to follow. These visual links, played simultaneously with the actors' voices, were very powerful in developing a connection with the audience. The images arranged by Celeste Deale caused feelings from the past to reemerge. These feelings reminded us of how strong we once were and how strong we can be in the future. Beautiful nature imagery was also used to express how the divisions between us seem so vast. While this may appear to be the case, the story shows us how we do have the capacity to come together through our shared experiences.

In conclusion, "Long Division" was a beautifully designed and thought-provoking piece that challenged its audience to confront seemingly uncrossable divisions.

The performance can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmNpfmYQr0o.