'Rapunzel' offers fairy-tale twists

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake High School is channeling several fairy tales in a play opening this week.

"Rapunzel," written by Don Hendrixson, advisor of Moses Lake High School's Masque and Gavel drama club, brings together characters from different fairy tales.

The play centers on Rapunzel, the princess known for her staggeringly long hair, and her relationship with a prince and a wolf.

"It's a story that's about a conflict between what the prince wants for Rapunzel and what Rapunzel wants out of her life," said Hendrixson. "And the wolf offers her something different."

The play also draws from the stories of "Little Red Riding Hood," "Cinderella" and "The Three Little Pigs."

"Overall, the theme has to do with whether you allow somebody else to dominate and control your choices or you make choices for yourself," said Hendrixson. "Rapunzel has to make the choice between the prince who's going to expect her to do traditional things and the wolf who might let her be who she is."

It's tradition for seniors who are president of the Masque & Gavel club to direct a play for their senior project, said Aziah Taplin. She is no exception.

Taplin, a senior at Moses Lake High School and president of the Masque and Gavel club, is directing the play for her senior project. It's the first full production she's directed, she said.

Directing has improved her communication skills with people, she said.

It's also allowed her to flex her leadership muscles as she sometimes has to do the hard work of making sure people are getting done what needs to be done, she said.

She didn't expect directing to be a breeze, but things have gone fairly smoothly, she said.

"Not everything has panned out, but I think we're moving along pretty well," she said.

The play starts at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday at the Moses Lake High School Theater, 803 E Sharon Avenue.

Admission is by donation.