By SUMYA MOHIUDDIN & CARMELLITE J. CHAMBLIN
Playground Hamlet
In this witty plot, the audience was introduced to the characters of Hamlet with a twist; they were childish, while staying true to the story. The story of Hamlet was visible through the characters’ motions and dialogue as well as props, such as tricycles, which were used to show the childish state that these characters were in. Additionally, there were sword fights, action robot figures, and artsy costumes to emphasize the childish behaviors. Although the plot follows the original storyline, the play itself had a unique twist.
Cobwebs
In this play, the audience was introduced to two couples in a very tense atmosphere. The boyfriend was jobless, and was doing very little to change. The girlfriend claimed to be supportive as she tried to talk to him about the next steps to take to change things. But as the conversation continued, the two decide to part ways. As the newly single boyfriend contemplated on what next to do, a spider, played by junior Jason Drapinski, crawls in a comedic way into the room.
The boyfriend, upon seeing the spider, fails to kill him, and exits the stage. The spider proceeds to speak to the audience about the woes of his life. As he rattled on about his experiences, another spider, Estelle, played by junior Stivia Demiri, made a remarkable entrance.
The two share tales of their life as young spiders and how “things were so simple back then,” according to Estelle. After she refuses to be with him, Drapinski’s character loses control of his actions.
The League of Semi-Superheroes
Justice is waiting to be served with a team of qualified semi-superheroes. Carol, played by sophomore Michelle Foley, exasperatedly tells the group that no one has called in a long time, and there is no point in continuing the business of heroism. Junior Noah Milan’s character was pessimistic, and agreed wholeheartedly with Carol, but all the other semi-superheroes argued that somebody might be in trouble, and they have to be there to save the day.
Sophomore Angelica Carberry’s character explains how “a group of dreamers who have lost their way,” may be in need of help.
In the end, the phone rings, and perhaps it is those who have lost their way. All hope was not lost.
Playtime with Alfred
Everything junior Michael Howe’s character was experiencing brought him to the mental asylum. It began with his constant hallucinations, where he sees his friend, Alfred, played by sophomore Jonathan Chipman, who is not very welcome. After talking to Alfred, whom no one can see but Howe’s character, his teacher yells at him to stop talking, not seeing who he was talking to. After yelling back and biting his teacher, Mrs. Numan, played by junior Karen Ramirez, he runs away, and the next scene began with him in his spot at the mental asylum. There, he again sees his friend from the past, Alfred. After a heated argument, which included the questioning of Alfred’s purpose of being there, Alfred screams “Because I am you.” The scene ends with Howe’s character having a mental breakdown, showing that bad memories always have a way of coming back.
Words, Words, Words
Monkeys should never be used to test a new scientific theory. Monkeys, who were played by seniors Rebecca Broomstein and Fernanda Muhlbeier, and sophomore Samantha French, were kept in a secluded area to produce a piece of writing that reflected the writings of classic writers, and one brave monkey decided to rebel. The two others wanted to stick with their owner’s plan, and that was to stay and continue typing. Why do scientists think three secluded monkeys trapped with three typewriters will create a notable work of art, such as Hamlet?
