La Serna High School - Pennon Yearbook (Whittier, CA)

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(top) The entire cast of the play assembles on stage for a final bow. (above) Preparing to make their exit, Damian Tong, Chris Grubbs, and Jim Thomas graciously bow to Megan Eustis. (left) As Monsieur Bonnegoy, played by Jason Thom- as, prrpjrfs (o make himself comfortable, Megan Eustis breaks dorm m sobs. Fall Play

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Play puts audience in stitches Lancers have always been known for their abounding and unending talents. They truly outdid themselves in this year ' s fall play of The Imaginary Invalid by Moliere. This play starred such explosive La Serna talents as Mike Cardenas, Erin Renoiif, Tara Maxey, Megan Eus- tis and Jason Thomas. It was performed at the Whittier High Svliool auditorium for the three consecutive nights of November :;o, 21. and 22. The play was directed by Earl Bycrs and supported by a large number of backstage crew and unseen helpers who pulled together to make the performance a sizzling success. The Imaginary Inralid is a popular restoration comedy which takes place in the seventeenth century. This play requires perfectly authentic backgrounds, props, make-up and costumes, putting all acting aside, to even be consid- ered a success. This authenticity could be clearly seen and was suprisingly well done by the La Serna troop. The actors and actresses gave a tremendous amount of effort and talent in the performance, as well as a great deal of time in putting it all together. Jason Thomas played the roles of two completely different characters and had 10 change in and out of two entirely different costumes backstage during the performance. Erin Renouf por- trayed a maid who was trying to fool her master by altering her costume and entirely changing her personality while on stage. All of the actresses were forced to wear extremely heavy and uncomfortable dresses, petticoats and even corsets. The actors donned nickers, stockings, shirts, vests, and a few coats as well as hats and glasses. Their efforts were well worth it and greatly appreciated as their friends and families were thoroughly entertained for over two hours. Once again. Lancers show how pulling togeth- er and giving it your all can prove to be an exciting success and a memorable experience for everyone. (above) Portraying the character (or whom the play was named after. Mike Cardenas n boiled by the amount of his medical bills. (upper right) Pan of the Royal Entourage, including Pamela Es- sig, Kathleen Drake, Mary Hazel, Jaime Jauch and Kathy Chavez, gather around Queen Mane Theresa played by Julie Hun- trods. (middle) Angelica, played by Tara Maxcy, (right) takes advantage of the chance to trll her maid Tomette, played by Erin Renouf, (left) about her secret Une. Fall Play

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If you wanna play, you gotta pay! Some were ready, some were excited, other , were unprepared, a few were scared, a couple didn ' t care, many were confused, most didn ' t know what to exjx-ct. But once he spoke, all was clear. This was not the actor or the story. This was the real Toma, who appeared hefore La Serna ' s 1,500 stu- dents at an assembly which lasted over two and a half hours. David Toma has devoted the past 23 years to warning kids about the dangers of drug abuse. In his lectures, Toma gives frightening and explosive accounts of what has happened to other drug users in an attempt to direct users and possible begin- ners away from drugs and alcohol. He had been a policeman in Newark for over 21 years. He served 16 of those years as a detective in Vice, where he became a master of disguise. Toma himself became addicted I ' M ' r s to tranquilizers soon after his son died from chocking on a piece of food. His son ' s death was ironic because Toma, that same day, had saved the life of a small child who had been choking on a piece of charcoal, yet he was unable to save his own son. Toma was ill the day he spoke. He had just lost his sister to injuries sustained in an accident caused by a drunk driver. That, in addition to the fact that he had a bad case of bronchitis, led Toma to break down quite easily while on stage. lomj After recognizing the presence of Whit- tier ' s Mayor, Gene Chandler, members of the Board of Trustees and PTA mem- bers, Mr. Camalich introduced David Toma. Toma told some of the fascinating stories about his life. He spoke of the hor- rors he faced while fighting the Mafia. They threatened him, his wife, and his daughter. This government within a gov- ernment is making money off the drugs that you kids take, said Toma. Toma spoke of the many chemicals and poisons in a typical marijuana joint. The effect a marijuana joint will have on a smok- er is totally unpredictable. Where the mari- juana was grown, how it was cultivated, what one had eaten that day, his mood, and even the weather influence the effect, Toma said. He told a frightening case of a boy who, under the influence of LSD, took his fin- gers and actually tore his eyes out of their sockets. Then he described an incident in- volving his daughter. After graduation re- hearsals, Toma ' s daughter called him and asked if she could go out with some friends. He consented, but brought her car to her because he wanted her to go separately. It was later discovered that the two guys she was to ride with got drunk and crashed their car into a tree while driving 80 m.p.h. Both bovs died. The highlight of the assembly came when Toma asked if there were any reco- vering addicts in the audience. Student Paul DeMarco stood up and walked down to the stage. Paul had been addicted to drugs for years. When Toma asked him why he quit, Paul responded, I just got tired of being tired. When asked what advice he would give to other students thinking about quitting, Paul just said, You c got to really want it. Whether students agree or disagree with his controversial approach, Toma is still respected for his definite stand against drugs. As Toma would say, And you can bet on it, bab) ' .