St. Charles Preparatory School drama students, along with a few female students from other central Ohio schools, will present a drama adapted from Homer's "The Odyssey" on Nov. 19-22.

"Anon(ymous)," written by Naomi Iizuka, is the story of a young refugee named Anon who journeys through the United States and encounters a variety of people as he searches for his family.

St. Charles drama director Doug Montgomery said instead of Odysseus trying to return home to his wife, Penelope, after the Trojan War, Anon is trying to return to his mother.

"He is a refugee coming from a war-torn country in Southeast Asia or the Middle East," Montgomery said. "He is searching for his mother, for home."

The biggest challenge for the drama students, Montgomery said, was trying to relate to the characters.

"I think the refugee experience in this country is very, very foreign to a lot of our students," who come from middle- and upper-class backgrounds, Montgomery said.

Senior Andrew Kellogg of Upper Arlington plays Russian immigrant Boris, who lives in an American underground tunnel. After Anon washes in from the ocean, Boris rescues him from the police and immigration officers, Kellogg said.

He said it was difficult putting himself in his character's shoes and relating to the other characters in the play. Boris is a tough, gritty person, said Kellogg, who lives in a fairly affluent neighborhood.

"The struggles that many Americans go through was an eye-opener," Kellogg said.

Sophomore Danny Turek of Grove City plays Anon. Sarah Dutton of Westerville, a senior at Columbus School for Girls, plays Nemasani, Anon's mom.

"She is stuck working in a sweat shop," Dutton said. "She hopes to find out if her son is alive."

Upper Arlington High School senior Emi Sigrist plays Naja, a Southeast Asian refugee who guides Anon along his path. She said students are "blessed" to have Montgomery serving as the director because he allows them to perform a complicated, challenging drama.

Senior Dan Otterson of Upper Arlington plays Ali, the father figure for Anon during his journey.

"He gives him an environment to be safe and tells him stories so he won't be afraid," Otterson said.

Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. Nov. 19-21 and 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at the St. Charles Campus Theater, 2010 E. Broad St. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. For reservations, call the school at 252-6714.