Drama students from Piedra Vista High School in Farmington last week competed in two one-act plays to determine which team would go to the state competition.

The students do a one-act play every year, but this was first year they competed in two plays, said ninth-year drama teacher Melissa Souers.

The state competition is held at San Juan College Nov. 9-12. Its purpose is for the actors to hone their skills and gain exposure to recruiters from colleges, including Fort Lewis, Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico State University, and San Juan College. It is not open to the public.

At the end of the competition Thursday though Saturday, Souers reported that her students would perform “Help Desk” at the state competition, which will have workshops and college auditions.e

Piedra Vista alumni and student teacher Tyler Gleason introduced the production to an enthusiastic audience of about 80 people, who were asked to choose their favorite and drop their choice into the ballot box after the performances.

“Help Desk” was written by Don Zolidis and directed by Souers. Zolidis has written two novels and more than 100 plays and one-acts for teenagers. Scenes and monologues are free to print for auditions and educational purposes, according to donzolidis.com.

“Appropriate Audience Behavior” was written by Ian McWethy and directed by Gleason. McWethy is the author of more than 50 plays that have been published by Playscripts. McWethy also has written two novels, according to Playscripts.

“Help Desk” turned into phone terror in this farcical nightmare tech world.

Here’s a taste of the script, also available at Playscripts, Inc.”

JERALYN: Help Desk, this is Jeralyn. What seems to be the nature of your problem?

ANGEL: Hey, so I’m trying to log into the network, and I can’t seem to make it work. JERALYN: Oh, OK. Boy, that’s a challenge. Glad I picked up this call.

ANGEL: I’m sorry?

JERALYN: No go ahead. Walk me through how terribly difficult this is.

ANGEL: Um … so, I put in my ID and password.

JERALYN: Uh-huh.”

That initial scene signaled a help desk that was geared to humiliate and torment callers, rather than solve their problems. The adept, young actors played their parts convincingly.

The casts

“Help Desk”

Bella Wilson as Jeralyn; Jenna Lytle as Angel; Mariah Romero as Beatrice;, Robert Stirman as Tanner; Abigail Gladden as Bailey; Dominic Burnham as Marcus; Arianna Jim as Dani; Braylen Edwards as Brent; Emma Williams as Mara; Chris Rercik as Charlie; Abigail Gladden as Brin; Jacob Malouff as Chase; Devyn Ericksen as Yamira; Dominic Burnham as Brett; Violet Fitzgerald as Jess; Mariah Romero as Vic; Emma Willians as Miley; Jenna Lytle as Mabel.

‘Appropriate Audience Behavior’

Same cast as “Help Desk,” but adding Abigail Harpole.

The scene when a caller needed help with computer virus protection drew lots of laughs and applause.

“BRIN: Yeah, so I downloaded Virus Assassin 3 because it said it would take care of my viruses permanently.

CHARLIE (chuckling): Yeah it says that. Classic.

BRIN: But as soon as I installed it I started getting all these pop-ups.

CHARLIE: Yup!

BRIN: And they just say things like, “your computer is in danger!” Or this one “There are viruses coming for your computer – they are stealing all of your information and writing emails to your mom blaming her for all the problems in your life.” I mean that’s really specific. My mom doesn’t even know she’s responsible for all the problems in my life.

CHARLIE: Amazing.”

Of course, ultimately, they never helped – only pushed to upsell all the way to a new computer.

The actors demonstrated abundant skills of getting into character, with physical and emotional expression, from falling on the floor and flailing in distress to screaming in anger or pain.

“Appropriate Audience Behavior” opens with Carol and Ashley taking their seats to watch “Hamlet,” but the real tragedy is that they’re sitting next to obnoxious viewers. The audience takes the spotlight as everyone from a cough-drop obsessive to a guy watching the play like a football game steals the show.

The cast included the actors from “Help Desk,” with the addition of sophomore Abigail Harpole, who played Brenda.

“I like getting to play a part and just getting away from everything,” she said.

About making a career of acting, “I like the dressing up part, yelling at the people, all the fun stuff, being in character,” said student actor Dominic Burnham. “I enjoy this very much.”

“I’ve been doing theater stuff a very long time. I just love performing,” said Devyn Erickson, a junior. “There’s something fun about taking on different characters. You get to create all these little details that most people don’t realize.”

Emma Williams, who has acted for four years at Piedre Vista, hopes to continue being involved in theater and plans to attend Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

Williams and Robert Stirman got radio experience promoting the theatrical battle on the Scott Michlin/KSJE Morning Show.

Stirman, a senior, looks forward to studying acting at Fort Lewis College in Durango. “I like the culmination of everything we’ve done – in one night,” he said.

Behind the scenes, an experienced crew kept the show running smoothly.

Lighting tech Matthew Evans added just the effects. In his second year in that position, he said he placed second at the state competition last year.

Stage manager Skylar Hickox likes helping and guiding others. “I like how organized you have to be, and I like being able to help the actors.” She acknowledged her assistants, Cassidy Tsinajine and Claire Olsen.

Technical director Danica Miller said, “I’m just kind of supervising the crew, making sure everything is running smoothly.”

Costumes were by Emma Williams, assisted by Hailie Barrett.