The first production of the 2024-2025 school year from Seawing theater is out now! It is directed by Wyloe Hill, a senior at PGHS. The production “She Kills Monsters”, follows Agnes Evans, a normal teenage girl, played by senior Owyn Montgomery, as she tries to find out more about her deceased younger sister Tilly, played by senior Olivia Englehorn. Agnes takes the help of Chuck, played by sophomore Max Deegan, one of Tilly’s friends, as she plays Dungeons and Dragons. Tilly wrote the game’s story, but as Agnes continues to play she realizes Tilly’s game is more of a diary than a story. The actors do a great job of making it seem like the audience is in a real game, and each actor seems very in tune with their character. We asked Wyloe a few questions about the play. these are her responses:
Q: What inspired you to choose this particular play for your latest production, and how do you think it resonates with the audience?
A: “I feel like this play was chosen because of the heartfelt messages and themes that are in the show that pair well with comedy. I like how the audience is expecting it to be solely comedy and then throughout the play they get to learn that this show is so much more than that. I think people will connect with the characters and I hope they love the actors who are able to tell this incredible story.”
Q: Can you describe your approach to interpreting the script and how you’ve worked with the cast to bring your vision to life on stage?
A: “I tried to use the script as a foundation for stage direction, physicality, and how lines are delivered. Then with that foundation, I took my ideas and, with the input of Mr.Vasquez, I was able to tell the cast my vision and even receive their input on occasion. The cast has had a lot of good ideas, especially when I’ve been stumped on what to do. With their input and my direction, we have the show and what the audience sees today”.
Q: What challenges did you face in terms of staging or production design, and how did you overcome them?
A: “The set of the stage was intended to be simple and minimalistic, the process, however, took longer than I thought it would. Between costuming, acting, props, etc the time dedicated to the set got lost. Despite this issue, the other cast and crew members and I allocated time to paint the set. Special thanks to the drama class for helping us out with last minute stage painting and prep!”
Q: How do you hope the audience will feel or think after experiencing this production, and are there specific themes or messages you’re aiming to highlight?
A: “I am hoping the audience will feel emotional and realize that there is so much more depth in this play despite the comedic themes in it. Comedy shouldn’t be the sole focus of this show. Many other messages like familial loss/grief and moving on after the fact. Grief is not a straightforward process and I am hoping our audience is evoked by emotions these actors bring to the table”.
“She Kills Monsters” has two more show times November 22 and 23 at 7pm in the Seawing theater, tickets are 10$ for adults and 5$ for students. Make sure to show your support!
