The Death and Life of Larry Benson; A WCHS Play Directed by Dave O'Roark

The Death and Life of Larry Benson, a Worthington Christian High School play, will be showing this weekend, both Friday and Saturday February 13th and 14th, at 7 P.M. in WCHS’ auditorium.

Within Reginald Rose’s play, Larry Benson has been missing in action in the 1970’s for over three years, and his family and friends have nearly given up hope of ever seeing or hearing from him again. When a stranger comes into town, claiming that he is Larry, nobody believes him.

However, the townspeople become worried and confused because this stranger somehow knows everything about Larry Benson. The dramatic play is said to be one of Rose’s greatest pieces.

Dave O’Roark, the director of the play, says he picked The Death and Life of Larry Benson because it was a “strong challenge, had emotional ups and downs, and a good element of suspense.” He also says that “The cast did a great job.” They worked on it just a little over
three weeks and put all their effort into it.

“It’s very emotional,” sophomore Andrew Siders, an actor in the play, says. “Larry comes home, but it’s not Larry. It’s somebody else, but he has the same memories as Larry. It’s interesting, in a way, that no one knows what’s happening and the characters are all in a process of accepting it.”

“It’s very fun and it’s very dramatic,” sophomore Annie Barlow, the actress who plays Larry’s first grade teacher, says: “I think people will enjoy it, but it’s not a comedy. It’s kind of sad…but it has a happy ending.”

Larry’s family and friends later discover the truth after a development of dramatic experiences and conversations with this stranger. Towards the ending of the play, everyone changes.

Many of the people who have seen the play consider it to be a heartbreaker. However, the ending of this story is heart-warming and unexpected.

Larry’s sixteen-year-old sister, Jessie, played by sophomore Shelby Hamrick, starts to believe that this stranger in their house might actually be her brother. She has mixed emotions and doesn’t know exactly how to act in his presence.

“We have had a blast working on it,” sophomore Danny Nathan, the actor who plays the stranger, says. “I think it’s a sad play that may make a few cry. A lot of great actors are in it. I think it’s very well directed.”

The Death and Life of Larry Benson may change your views upon having a family. It’s a play about accepting the truth, even when you don’t want to; and loving the ones who need to be loved.