Dressed in cuffed jeans and a gray elephant t-shirt, a flustered Bradley Boatright (Henry Morehouse) barrels onto the stage in a hurried jog, dives on the ground and raises his untied shoes, directing his mother to tie his laces. “I’m in a major freakin hurry,” he declares, his voice booming with impatience. Patricia (Katie Suh), concerned about her son’s mischievous ploys, crosses her arms and places them on her hips, then reluctantly bends down to aid her son.
Filled with realistic and rather complex relationships, “Troublemaker, or the Freaking Kick-A Adventures of Bradley Boatright’’, written by Dan LeFranc and directed by Summer Williams was brilliantly performed on Friday, December 13th by this years freshmen class.“Troublemaker” excels at portraying the strong male friendships that often go unpraised while generating constant laughter from the audience. The story is about a 13-year-old boy, Bradley, played by Henry Morehouse, who spends his days trying to destroy his mom’s relationship with his nemesis JK’s, dad (Samuel Jennings), a British professor working at the boarding school Bradley risks being sent away to. Bradley’s best friend, Mikey Minkle (Jake Sternlicht), is his most loyal supporter and aids him in his devious plots, such as avoiding being enrolled in the infamous Oggerstead Academy. The two boys devise their plans with their female friend Loretta Beretta (Charlotte Palmucci) who Mikey has a hopeless crush on and Bradley eventually dates.
Using a collection of classic cuss words such as ‘A-hole’, and ‘Freaking A’, “Troublemaker” established an original language that provoked laughter while solidifying the authenticity of the play.
The blend of unique and eccentric characters also played a crucial role in the incredible texture of the play. JK Miller (Haley Barnes) is the spoiled rich girl with her army of “A-holes” mastering hilarious reactions to each feud she engages in. There is the occasional visit by the malevolent Oggerhead academy representatives Sturgis Drang (Sarah Dreyfus) and the superintendent (Mikayla Lazowski).Both actresses mastered thick Eastern European accents that further enhanced the menace of their characters.
One of the best-crafted scenes was when Bradley and Mikey encountered the spooky quintet of homeless pirate zombies played by Louie Goldsmith, Sarah Simon, Gracie Western, Violet Maxfield, and Frannie DiRice, who were each with dark face paint, wild hair, and eerie attire. Each actor brought humor and liveliness into their character, and seemed very well-cast.
The most memorable performances, however were by Sternlicht as Mikey and Santos as A-hole #3. Sternlicht’s portrayal as the clueless yet devoted best friend was masterful. With timely jokes, exaggerated facial expressions, and bold physical choices, Sternlicht shined as the nerdy friend and was constantly triggering an uproar of laughter in the audience.
Santos as A-hole #3 was just as stellar. Featured alongside Isaac Rimm and Evan Paris, Santos dazzles as the sassy sidekick, with timely remarks and bold commentary as JK battled with Bradley.
With sarcastic jokes and all the plot twists in the world, “Troublemaker” capitalized on the importance of family and friendship while remaining light and amusing. From the heartwarming friendship of Bradley and Mikey, to the loving yet shaky relationship of Bradley and his mom, audience members could easily relate with the complex relationships between characters. While no relationship was without flaws, they overcame the many obstacles in the play. Just like in life, while no friendship is perfect, a true friendship will prevail.
Noa Dalzell can be contacted at [email protected]
