PUBLISHED REVIEW: El Dorado High School's "The Lightning Thief" is Electrifying!

written by Eden Newcott, a junior at Newport Harbor High School for Orange County Cappies

Owen Switzerland (Percy), Thomas Wu (Grover), and Avery Henkenius (Annabeth) in The Lightning Thief at El Dorado High School

"The Lightning Thief" is Percy Jackson's coming of age story as he navigates friendship, finding himself, and preventing war among the Greek gods. The impressive leads and dynamic ensemble showcase their talents and leave the audience laughing.

Owen Switzer as Percy communicates how it feels to be a teenager as he tugs on his sweatshirt, runs his hands through his hair, and struts around the stage. In "Good Kid," his powerful, clear voice moves the audience as he expertly alternates from expressing frustration to hope. His presence is consistently commanding and each movement is intentional.

Thomas Wu as Grover, Percy's best friend and protector, brings energy to the show, lighting up the stage with his joyful smile. Contrastingly, Avery Henkenius as Annabeth puts on a tough, determined facade as she strides across the stage and scoffs at Percy. Her character develops when she gets vulnerable during her song "My Grand Plan" in act two. Her emotions can be heard in her voice as she sings, beautifully transitioning from confident, to hurt, to angry, to determined.

The members of the dynamic ensemble play a wide variety of characters including monsters, demigods, and deceased pop culture icons. Carissa Gotreau as Katie Gardner embraces the naivete and gumption of a teenage girl as she pouts, hugging the leg of a table, mourning the tree it once was.

The costume designers (Tobin Cooke, Carissa Gotreau, Avery Henkenius, Link Montgomery, Dee Tran) thoughtfully dress each camper at Camp Half-Blood. They include the bright colors of summer as well as customizations based on who each character's godly parent is. For example, Silena Beauregard (Tessa Moore) wears a pink, sparkly tank top because her mom is Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love.

The set team (Tessa Moore, Elise Shum, Owen Switzer, Ethan Taylor-Swift) executes the show's grungy vision with setpieces spray painted to look like metal and PVC pipe painted to look like copper. They constructed a bathroom stall, painted graffiti on it, and installed a mechanism that sprays fog into Clarisse's face when she tries to ambush Percy.

The show can't go on without Stage Manager Link Montgomery. They masterfully call 252 light cues and 73 sound cues, including ten cues in one minute in the opening scene.

El Dorado High School's "The Lightning Thief" is lighthearted and well done, leaving the audience smiling and motivated.

READ THE PUBLISHED REVIEW HERE.