Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 10, 1990 TAG: 9006120370
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT RIVENBARK SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
In May, she competed in the National Catholic Forensics League competition in Chicago against other students from across the country.
Forensics means public speaking, and it covers many categories, including extemporaneous speaking, dramatic interpretation, humorous interpretation, poetry, prose and impromptu after-dinner speaking.
Lowry, who plans to become a professional actress, chose dramatic interpretation as her category. In Williamsburg, she used a piece from "The Burning Bed," the noted television drama about an abused housewife. She also used it at the national competition in Chicago.
According to Lowry's coach, Peggy Arnold, Lowry has undergone intensive training for the past three years to prepare for her recent victories. She has won district and regional competitions and twice placed first in the statewide competition in the AA category.
Arnold said dramatic interpretation differs from conventional acting and is more difficult.
"You have to portray all the characters in the play and give the audience the feeling they're right there - without moving your body from the waist down," she explained.
"Everything has to be done with the voice, eyes, vocal variety and gestures. If the script calls for someone to fall to their knees and cry, the interpreter has to suggest that without actually falling."
To help refine Lowry's raw talent, Lowry's mother requested Arnold's services as a coach three years ago. Arnold studied public speaking at Southwestern State University in Oklahoma and has coached students in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg area for 15 years. She began working with Lowry every afternoon after school to sharpen her speaking skills. As Lowry progressed, Arnold cut back to three sessions a week. This year, they meet only once a week.
"It's important to save Catina's voice and energy for competition," Arnold said. "And besides, she doesn't need as much drill now. She's very advanced."
Arnold helped Lowry with "The Burning Bed" material by cutting down the script so it could meet the competition requirement of 10 minutes maximum for each piece. Lowry portrays four characters in the piece: the abused wife, her abusive husband, the child caught in the middle and the narrator who bridges the scenes.
Lowry and Arnold have had to pay their way to district, regional and state competitions and they paid their ways to Chicago.
"Fortunately, I have wonderful friends in Blacksburg who believe in Catina and in what I'm doing," Arnold said. "And Catina's church, Our Savior Lutheran in Christiansburg, and the Eastern Star fraternal organization in Christiansburg have given financial support, too."
Lowry said she hopes to pursue movie and stage acting, and she expects to work hard for it.
About 1,000 students from throughout the United States competed for 80 scholarships to the Goodman School. Lowry also will receive a Rotary Club scholarship.
"At the Goodman School of Drama, . . . you have to audition to come back each year. Nobody is guaranteed the right to continue," she said. "Also, all the faculty members must be working professionally in the theater to keep their positions. So it's very demanding on everybody."
Lowry recently performed "The Burning Bed" for the Women's Resource Center in Christiansburg.
by CNB