"Up the Down Staircase" was originally written in the 1960s.

Yet the issues it addresses can still be found in today's society and in today's schools.

Warsaw Community High School theater department is presenting "Up the Down Staircase" at Lakeview Auditorium Nov. 16-17 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.

The play is set in the current day in an inner-city high school classroom where novice teacher, Sylvia Barrett (played by WCHS student Annie Koser), fights for the education of her indifferent students and learns lessons about life in the process.

"It's her first year of teaching," said Koser. "(Barrett) goes through a lot of problems because these are troubled students who know they can take advantage of her."

Barrett tries hard to win the students over and "at the end," said Koser, "it just all pays off."

Perhaps the main relationship in the play is the often-hostile one between Barrett and rebellious student Joe Ferone (Phil Dillon).

"At the end, he tells her she really does mean a lot to him. She was the first teacher," said Koser, who took the time to get to know Joe.

While Koser said she based her character in part on the teacher played by Michelle Pfeiffer in the movie "Dangerous Minds," Koser said there are quality teachers out there like Sylvia.

"I think every teacher has a different way of teaching and we need to appreciate the different ways," Koser said. "I've actually had a lot (of teachers) like her."

As the main student in the play, Dillon describes Joe as "this big lug who's drawn into himself because he doesn't think anyone else cares. He's just getting by. He has no friends. He's always into trouble. It's not always his fault."

Sometimes, Dillon said, people make assumptions about Joe that he is always at the center of any trouble, but that isn't always the case.

When Barrett comes into Joe's life, Dillon said, Joe begins to change and think differently. Instead of perhaps dropping out of school at the end of the nine weeks, Joe decides otherwise.

"Mrs. Barrett brings out the best in all these students who were just there," said Dillon.

Another one of the diverse students is Edward Williams, Esq. (played by Karl Wilbert).

"He's an African-American student that thinks that all caucasians owe him something because he's black," said Wilbert.

Every time a teacher calls on him and Edward doesn't know the answer, Wilbert said, Edward gets angry because he thinks the teacher is doing it on purpose to make him look dumb. Meanwhile, the white students seem to be called on only if they know the answer.

Being an African-American himself, Wilbert said, he didn't necessarily have the same opinion as Edward, but "I can see where he's coming from," especially back in the 1960s when the play was written.

The diversity of teachers and staff trying to keep an inner-city school afloat is also reflected in the play.

Megan Lawson plays Charlotte Wolf in the play. Wolf is, according to Lawson, "a very emotionally involved librarian." The role, she said, is a "very, very challenging part to me because I have to overreact, kind of. But it's fun."

During the play, Lawson said, the audience will learn why Wolf is as she is. The librarian doesn't have any help. It's a lower-class school with few funds for the library, and most of the students don't want to go to the library.

Erika Wilson plays Ella Friedenberg, the guidance counselor. "She's really deep," said Wilson. "She thinks she's Sigmund Freud."

Wilson said the counselor obsesses over having the students' attitudes perfect and is very strict. But the role, she said, is fun and the play "definitely shows life from the aspect of different people at a school."

Besides the plot between Barrett and Joe, there are other interactions to watch.

English teacher Paul Barringer (Ryan Francis) is considered one of the best looking teachers by the other teachers and at least one student, Francis said. That student develops a serious crush on Barringer.

"(Paul) makes a few bad choices with the way he handles certain choices with this student," said Francis. Along the way and due to an event Francis won't go into detail about - you have to see the play - Barringer "changes quite a bit. He makes a tragic mistake and hears about it."

The assistant principal, J.J. McHabe (Drew Etienne), is "uptight," according to Etienne. "He's frustrated. He wants the school to run" perfectly. "He kind of adds an antagonist kind of feel to Annie's character (Sylvia). He also provides some comic relief," however unintentional.

At the end, Etienne said, the relationship between Annie and J.J. changes. "There's definitely a lot to learn from (the play)," he said.

If anyone needs any more reasons to see the play, the cast offers the following suggestions:

Dillon said: "It's good and I'm in it. Come see it."

Breanne Taylor - who plays frantic school clerk Sadie Finch - recommends: "This play has a very good lesson behind it but it's also comical at the same time."

The diversity of characters in the play, such as the librarian, said Lawson, is a great reason for the public to come out and see it.

"There's a character anyone can relate to and I think that makes it the best," she said.

Touching on such issues as student crushes on teachers, diversity and education, Francis said, the play is "kind of an eye opener. It exposes a lot of things people don't know that are going on."

Tickets are $3 for students and $5 for adults. [[In-content Ad]]