A girl’s face contorts in anger as she learns her best friend had been making out with her ex-boyfriend. While she confronts the ex-friend, bystanders watch with amused expressions, in awestruck by the dramatic falling-out between two friends.
This scene is from “Re: framed,” a play performed from March 4-5 by the school’s Drama Society cast and crew that was previously shown in the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Festival. The play was a semi-finalist of the competition between New England high schools, and six students in the play were recognized with All-Star Company awards for their performances. “Re: framed” is set in a fictional high school, where a simple kiss on the cheek sparks an all-consuming rumor, just as a theater group puts on a fundraiser show for a children’s hospital.
Magnolia (senior Abigail Mitchell), the stage manager for the fundraiser and the subject of the rumor, is a resilient protagonist. She plays her role perfectly, navigating a tumultuous relationship with her friend Lucy (Charlotte Hintz), as rumors spread around the school, complicating the friendship.
Many of the rumors originate from the band Minimum Wage, a group that is also performing at the fundraiser. After seeing the kiss between Cole (Porter Larson), their fellow member, and Magnolia in a social media post, they quickly start to gossip. The band was able to realistically capture the excitement of gossiping. Larson also portrayed Cole’s character effectively, his body language and dialogue showing his frustration at trying to prove the situation wasn’t what the group thought.
To diffuse the chaos and intensity of the main plotline, one of the performing groups called the Freestyle Five brought one of the most creative scenes to the show. As Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Russian Dance” began to play, hilarity ensued. Using a sheet of blue fabric to represent a swimming pool, the group executed a series of movements, raising their legs and diving behind the cloth to imitate swimmers underwater.
Another memorable character was Adrian Watson (senior Sammy Lipton), one of the cheerleaders of the West Monroe Wooly Mammoths. As the only male cheerleader, he immediately stood out and added to the comedic effect. He and others deftly carried out difficult cheerleading routines while gossiping, further fueling the fire between Lucy and Magnolia, and causing the two friends to lash out at each other.
This range in comedy was one of the highlights of the show. Its many jokes, including both the fundraiser to buy Labubus for a children’s hospital, and enactments of riotous, dirty jokes following the incident, contributed to its broader success. In addition to the comedy, the storyline, where rumors spread on social media and spark misunderstandings between friends and classmates, is relatable for much of the audience. Eventually, Magnolia and Lucy resolve the argument between them by sitting down and sharing some pasta while the fire between them burns out. The curtain call comes with Cole and Magnolia talking to each other on a bench, where the story finally builds up to a plot twist with Cole coming out as gay.
Overall, the award-winning production was both hilarious and fun to watch. The show delivered creative performances, clever sound effects and strong student renditions, making for an enjoyable experience. It’s the kind of show that makes you laugh, relax, and appreciate the commitment and energy of the cast and the crew.
