Powerful Women Take Flight
Story appeared in the 2019 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.
BY HAYLEY PICARD, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Assuming the part of a female pilot determined to challenge women’s societal roles in WWII is a daunting task. Sharing that pilot’s story with authenticity, is an even taller order. Yet, for the actors in this year’s production of Decision Height, their sights were set on achieving that high flying goal.
Written by Meredith Dayna Levy, the play follows Virginia Hascall (Sierra Compton) as she leaves behind her fiancé and family to become a woman air force service pilot (WASP) and do her part in defeating the Axis power during the Second World War.
Virginia’s journey of flight results in tragedy and triumph, culminating in a decision that will alter her life and those of her sisters in flight suits: Eddie (Skye Koyote), Mildred (Alex Berry-Dillen), Norma Jean (Winter Koyote), Carol (Denzy James), Alice (Amber Heard), Rosalie (Kiana Chang), Ziggie (Olivia Kelly), and Mrs. Deton (Kemre Rippon).
For director Martina Blake, it was important the actors understand the social context for these female pilots in 1940s America, the obstacles they faced, and the sacrifices made to attain their wings. This meant providing the actors with experiential learning opportunities to engage their sensory awareness and create deeper meaningful connections with their characters.
“Our students were passionate about understanding the psychological strength required of air force pilots,” explains Blake. “We arranged for a tour and information session with veteran pilots at the BC Museum of Aviation in Victoria, and invited Snowbird pilot, Captain Ian James of the Canadian Air Force, to one of our rehearsals. Our students were ready to portray these incredible female characters with depth, empathy, and realism.”
To further enhance the compelling story of Decision Height, the cast researched QMS’ archives to find evidence of the school’s connection to aviation during WWII. As a result, they were able to create a moving display of photos in the lobby of the Fine Arts Hall to educate the audience on how our small community also contributed to the war effort. “Discovering how different the lives of QMS students were from mine during WWII helped with character development and understanding the time period,” shares Winter Koyote.
For Koyote, being part of the cast provided so much more than just a fictional role in a high school play. “I became more confident and learned that just because I had a plan for what my life was supposed to look like, sometimes experiences change that plan, altering our destination, and that’s ok! Ultimately, Decision Height was about choices: to land or not to land, to decide if you really want to follow your dreams. It gave me my silver wings—the courage I needed to fly into the world, ready for whatever comes my way.”
The power and passion these actors shared on stage brought awareness to a little known piece of American aviation history, and inspired them to follow their life’s ambitions. The sky’s not necessarily the limit.