The Montgomery High School players are proud to announce their fall play: She Kills Monsters:
Virtual Realms by Qui Nguyen.
Though COVID-19 restrictions meant the students could not perform on stage in front of an audience, they have adapted to a new type of performance. The show will be performed over Zoom, with cast and crew all in their own homes, and streamed out in real time to the audience.
She Kills Monsters originally debuted Off-Broadway in 2011. Set mostly in the world of “Dungeons & Dragons,” it tells the story of a teenage girl named Agnes trying to cope with her sister Tilly’s death by exploring the fantasy world that Tilly loved and ultimately learning more about both her sister and herself. This past spring, author Nguyen adapted the play for online performance, and it has been performed by dozens of high schools and colleges since then.
Director David Gordon says that despite the unconventional format, it has been very rewarding to be able to create theater with the talented cast and crew.
“This play has so much heart and it’s been a joy to see the students connecting with one another, even if only through a Zoom meeting.” Senior Sophia Sapienza, who plays Agnes, says “The fall play has been my favorite activity each year, and I’m so glad we were able to continue this year and put on another performance.”
The crew, led by Peter Kauzmann and Jason Orbe, has been hard at work as well. While there were no sets to build, there were plenty of design elements to be created, from Zoom backgrounds to props and costumes to original music.
Sound designer William Cheng says, “Working on this year’s virtual play has given me the opportunity to be a part of a team in a time when doing things with others is challenging. It has proven to be a chance to adapt, stretch and grow.”
According to Crew Captain Grace DeJohn: “Taking part in our school’s drama club has been an incredible creative outlet for me since last year, and this year especially. As much as I miss building the sets, the challenges this year have created a stronger environment.
"When the other captains and I found out that we were most likely going to have a Zoom performance, we were beyond frustrated. However the longer I have been working on this show, the more I realize just how creative our students are.”
Performances are Friday, December 4 at 8 pm; Saturday, December 5 at 8 pm; and Sunday, December 6 at 2 pm. “Tickets” to access the live stream can be purchased online at our.show/MHS/SheKillsMonsters.
Tickets are $10 ($5 for students). Parents are cautioned that She Kills Monsters: Virtual Realms includes mild adult themes and language. ■
