SHS drama productions have been a treasure at Scituate High for many years. In the past, production teams have presented an astounding variety of shows–from the online chilling performance of Dracula, to the historical musical, 1776, and the ever-popular dance musical, Mamma Mia. Unfortunately, the club couldn’t put on live productions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, live shows are up and running once more–starting with the spectacular She Kills Monsters, which was performed twice on Saturday, March 5th, in the Performing Arts Center. 

She Kills Monsters, written by Qui Nguyen, is a play that explores themes of grief, loss, and family, painting these topics in an optimistic light through the use of comedy. It tells the story of an average girl named Agnes Evans and her entirely anomalous sister–Tilly Evans. Tilly was an extraordinary and prolific Dungeons and Dragons player. After Tilly tragically passed away in a car accident, Agnes embarked on a journey in a Dungeons and Dragons simulation to reconnect with her sister and gain a renewed sense of self. 

In this production, the SHS cast and crew made the show come alive. SHS junior Taylor Carty played Tilly–the deceased sister to Agnes. Thoroughly enjoying her role, Carty said she loved the use of comedy and how the performance went deep into “conversations that are sometimes sensitive and difficult for people to understand.”

SHS faculty advisor to the Drama Club, Director Matt Maggio, explained that this year’s cast and crew has “a very big following” of Dungeons and Dragons players, which is one of the reasons the play was chosen. Addressing controversial issues within our country, and specifically, within our school community, was also a contributing factor. According to Maggio, one of the difficult aspects of working on the show was the “amount of the slurs.” Maggio said, “It was bad back then, and it is bad now, but fortunately, we use [them] less now. Unfortunately, it’s still out there and still hurtful.” 

The Scituate drama program promotes student empowerment, which encourages students to fully explore their talents and interests. For She Kills Monsters, junior Mimi Minich was the stage manager, which she described as “the head of tech.” Minich explained the process: “I went to every single rehearsal–actors and tech–so that was like three or four days a week since we started the show back in September.” Minich was in charge of taking notes about what the actors needed, blocking, which is moving the actors around on stage and making sure everything was getting done.

Though Minich was given considerable responsibility, she found it easy to work with her fellow students, saying, “Everybody in the high school is more mature, and when you ask them to do something, they mostly do it.” This maturity encourages a strong community. Minich and Carty described the process as “amazing,” and “supportive,” which cultivated a strong bond between all the students and staff involved.

SHS drama productions have a reputation for fostering a welcoming community. Expressing complex emotions enthusiastically on stage allows students to form bonds–and make friends–within the drama program. Director Maggio wholeheartedly agrees and encourages his students to use theater as a way to explore controversial topics and emotions in a healthy way.