Despite the worst conditions a thespian could ask for, Mira Loma managed to put on a solid performance of this year’s Winter Play. She Kills Monsters is a drama-comedy play created by Qui Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American writer known for the upcoming Disney movie Raya and the Last. This play, directed by Larissa Mayor (who also played “Vera” in the play), features Agnes Evans (Madison Gutierrez ’24). Agnes is a high schooler who strives to connect to and understand her late sister, Tilly (Anela Rei Tan’ 22). She does this by playing a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) module created by her sister, where she encounters monsters and drama. The entirety of the play follows Agnes as she uncovers her and her sister’s identity through this roleplaying game. She is forced to reevaluate her life and feelings as she comes to terms with the choices she made while Tilly was still alive. In addition, the play features various compelling and relatable characters that accompany Agnes throughout her journey to discover herself and her sister while successfully bringing out the themes of acceptance, friendship, and imagination.
Although it does not surpass the experience of a play in the black box theater, the virtual theater’s appeal and ingenuity should not be overlooked. Mira Loma’s drama club changed the format of its virtual events, as it introduced a smooth play, complete with scene changes, props, character positioning, and even a dance number. Those who missed out on the play due to concerns relating to the structure missed out on a unique theater experience. The drama club was able to creatively adapt to the restrictions imposed as a response to COVID-19. Of course, there were internet connection issues that distracted the viewers from the originality of the play. These internet issues consisted of screen freezing for a few seconds at most, yet were not frequent nor too lengthy. Such issues did not inhibit the overall quality nor the general enjoyment of the audience.
On another note, the play was extremely unique because it explored LGBTQ+ themes and sexuality through a D&D roleplayer perspective. Even if audience members had never experienced a game of D&D in their life, She Kills Monsters was still quite engaging due to its relatable themes. Additionally, the plot felt like one of a kind because the constant alteration between the real world and the RPG world expanderd one’s creativity and imagination. The D&D setting in She Kills Monsters was a great way to connect the audience through an online platform, since the pandemic has caused people to increase their reliance on the Internet for entertainment.
She Kills Monsters helped audience members understand how roleplay games like D&D are a different world that many people can use to escape the real world and their problems. Moreover, the play would not have been the same without the stunning performances of the actors in drama club. The cast’s acting was exceptional, both skillfully and emotionally, and they performed in their bedrooms and through a zoom livestream. Actors took advantage of their at-home resources, and it looked like they could quickly get into character and perform with no problem. Overall, it was pretty impressive for the cast to perform a play while following quarantine guidelines. It is nice to see that the drama club continues to conduct their plays on a virtual platform, so that audiences can still be entertained in a safe and mindful manner. She Kills Monsters is a noteworthy play that has uniquely adapted to the restrictions quarantine has implemented on us all, providing its viewers with a compelling and emotional plot. For those curious about the play, but were doubtful of the virtual platform, they should not allow those skepticisms to ruin their chances of seeing this unique experience. Especially because the only minor issue was the internet connection, which cannot be blamed on the cast or the drama club. Considering the success of this fall play, be sure to check out the drama club’s Spring play as well!
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