Keeping the drama on the stage
Lila Mensing, president of the Thespian Society, recently accepted the role as Banquo in the fall production of Macbeth. Mensing hopes to attend college in New York. AJ Markow photo
October 21, 2009 • Ali Kinkade
Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Featured
Lila Mensing is the epitome of a versatile actress. In Summit’s upcoming production of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the senior plays the title character’s swashbuckling—and male— best friend.
“It’s a huge stretch as an actor, but I’m always up for a new challenge,” said Mensing.
The last Shakespeare piece she was seen in, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” featured Mensing as the lively and mischievous Puck, a fairy constantly meddling in the affairs of mortals.
She is also remembered from both “Steel Magnolias” (Ouiser) and “Bye Bye Birdie” (Mae Peterson) as the cynical spinster, as well as last year’s “And Then There Were None,” in which she portrayed the intelligent ingénue Vera Claythorne.
We’re sitting on the floor of the drama room before rehearsal starts, and Mensing’s short, jet-black hair is pulled back from her face as she looks over her script and chats with fellow cast members.
“I love the diversity of my previous characters,” said Mensing. “I used to play chiefly Jewish mothers, but recently I have been cast in other roles, which is really refreshing.”
Being a Jewish mother has provided some of her best experiences in theatre, however. “It’s tough to pick my favorite role, but I loved being Ouiser because I just had to be myself… basically a grumpy old woman,” she said, laughing.
“Lila is determined to make it as an actress and I have no doubt that she will succeed. She is as talented as she is beautiful and what more could a director want?” said fellow thespian and 2009 graduate Maddie Eberhard.
Mensing is also quite the leader.
She has served as the Thespian Society president two years running and helped take nearly 20 students to the state acting competition last spring, where she performed in a one act that qualified for international recognition.
“’I’m A Celebrity’ was a children’s show that we brought to the competition, and we tied for first place,” said Mensing.
This qualified them for the national competition. Due to travel expenses, she and her co-stars (Jordan Smith, Maddie Eberhard and Skyler Oatman) elected not to go, but State was a wonderful experience for all, and they agree that it was awesome that they won an award for what they call “a silly show up against very dramatic one acts.” Eberhard credits the teamwork the four of them demonstrated as the thing that made the piece stand out.
“I’m always so humbled by the talent that everyone has [at State]… every year you see the coolest people ever,” said Mensing. “I can’t wait to go again!”
Last spring, she tried her hand at the technical side of theatre and took on stage manager for “The Importance of Being Earnest,” which she said was “definitely a different experience. I give a lot of credit to my assistant stage manager Emily Eberhard.”
In addition to theatre, Mensing enjoys her work on student council, which she has been involved in throughout school, holding the offices of Spirit Commissioner, Assemblies Coordinator and Senior Representative.
Drama and Council were ways for Mensing to find a place when she moved to Bend from Scottsdale, Arizona the summer before her freshman year.
Her mother, Mona Mensing, is a makeup artist, so Lila had the opportunity to do some modeling and commercials in Scottsdale.
“My mom has always inspired me, and she’s involved with theatre through makeup,” she said.
When she came to Summit, theatre obviously drew her immediately. “I think it’s the one place where I fit in perfectly,” she said.
In addition to her mother, Lila cites Barbara Streisand and Maddie Eberhard as role models.
“Being a part of a cast is a very special bond that is unlike anything in the world. Lila and I have become really close through it. Your emotions are constantly on display and it takes a huge amount of trust to be able to experiment with characters and this has made our friendship very strong,” said Eberhard.
After high school, she thinks she will also fit in on the East Coast. She hopes to go to college in New York and pursue writing, or law, which is her father’s occupation,. For now, though, she is focusing on school and theatre.
And in a dream world?
“I would actually love to play the character Karen from ‘Will And Grace,’ because we’re so similar,” she said.
“I would encourage anyone who wants to act to go for it.” Mensing said, “because you meet so many wonderful people. Be confident, and don’t take crap from anyone.”
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