On November 8th, 2023, the Drama department opened the curtains and dimmed the house lights for another fall play. She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen follows the story of Agnes Evans, an average girl from Athens, Ohio who got sucked into a Dungeons & Dragons adventure in an attempt to better understand her late younger sister, the nerdy and geeky Tilly Evans.
The show garnered a positive reception from opening night. “Overall the show was amazing. I love the comedic aspect especially like the hidden adult jokes,” said senior Akilah Cole. “Transitions between scenes were smooth and I love that the actors were on the floor closer to the audience. It makes the experience more exciting and intriguing. Once again it was a great show and everyone did awesome.”
Behind the scenes, the rehearsal process for She Kills Monsters had just as much of an impact on the company as it did the show on the audience. The show is composed of many new and veteran company members.
“I will say that the show was truly one of the best plays I’ve been in,” said senior actress Sofia Ortega-Brazelton. “The rehearsal process was very long, but it was very fun being around my senior friends and getting to hang out with the new underclassmen really helped the show come together.
“Playing Kaliope in my senior show was truly an honor and awe inspiring to share her story on stage,” Ortega-Brazelton added. “This work continues not only on the stage, but on a wider platform in the years following high school where I grow and change and embrace my passion, so for that, I feel so lucky to have been in this production.”
It was evident that the Ortega-Brazelton’s sentiments were shared, as each actor on stage was connected in emotionally heavy scenes alongside set pieces that moved with ease through backstage coordination.
The show addresses the themes of relationships, identity, and passing through the emotions of grief. When asked, “What does ‘She Kills Monsters’ mean to us?” senior stage manager Kelis Caesar responded, “I think it’s about acceptance. Well, I think every play is about acceptance. I see Agnes as an average person trying to accept her current reality and the changes within it. Agnes’ life changes rapidly and she attempts to cope with it through connecting with parts of her life that she neglected. To me, that’s what this production meant. As a current senior, doing my last play was about accepting the upcoming transition to college. It’s about accepting what things are and what they’re going to change into.”
The message of “She Kills Monsters” is highly encouraging, especially with current circumstances. It reminds people to spend time with the people they love and to acknowledge that the tragedies and comedies of life can never kill anyone.
