Annandale Theater Company fall production of She Kills Monsters

Cheerleading+squad+supports+Miles+the+football+player%2C+played+by+Junior+Cort+Hollis%2C+who+is+holding+his+girlfriend+Agnes+Evans%2C+played+by+Junior+Rediate+Zewdu%2C+after+Miles+scored+a+winning+touchdown+during+their+game.

Cheerleading squad supports Miles the football player, played by Junior Cort Hollis, who is holding his girlfriend Agnes Evans, played by Junior Rediate Zewdu, after Miles scored a winning touchdown during their game.

“Let’s Go Bobcats! Let’s Go,” chants Steve, played by Freshman Nareg Boghosian, when the infamous football player, Miles scores the winning touchdown, giving another win to the Bobcats, their school’s mascot. Proceeding the game, Miles greets his varsity cheerleader girlfriend, Agnes Evans, played by Junior Rediate Zewdu.

The relationship between Agnes and Miles is similar to any other relationship that one would find in a stereotypical high school movie. Fortunately enough, the majority of the show includes many themes and subjects that are not so stereotypical.
Such themes are evident between the relationship that Agnes Evans has with her sister, Tilly Evans, played by Junior Emily Trachsel. Agnes discovers the truth behind her sister’s bullying after she passes away in a car crash. She discovers this through the virtual reality Dungeons and Dragons campaign or game that Agnes begins to play with Dungeon Master Chuck Biggs, played by Sophomore Raffi Krikorian.
He is an average game shop worker that helps Agnes play the D&D game that her sister has created, that served as a diary at times for her tormented self.
In the game, Agnes along with other members of the party which include Kaliope, played by Sophomore Savannah Gravitt, Lilith, played by Junior Shae Rigo and Orcus, played by Sophomore Jack Dalrymple, fight comedic yet deadly monsters that venture in their path to defeating the ultimate monster: the Tiamat. The Tiamat is a five headed dragon that represents the five elements of earth: earth, fire, wind, water and lighting.
The whole campaign fight alongside their leader, the Tillius the Paladin, to retrieve the Lost Soul of Athens.

In this journey, Agnes learns that she has been too focused on herself and her own life throughout high school instead of listening to her sister and spending enough time with her. She was unable to know that she was being bullied for being herself, which was a tomboy nerd that never dressed nor acted like any other girl during the 90s. In this journey, Agnes learns that she has been too focused on herself and her own life throughout high school instead of getting to know her own sibling and understanding the struggles that she faced.

The most powerful part of the play is when Agnes, the sister of Tilly, is very surprised and not sure what to think when she discovers that her dead sister is gay. It’s a very powerful moment in the show because it shows that even people who don’t consider themselves homophobic can still take an issue with the community, and it’s an eye opening moment.

The play really focus on the LGBTQ+ community.“This play speaks to a community who isn’t always accepted and it really highlights that they are no different from anyone else. They should be treated with kindness and love just as anyone else is,” said Assistant director and Junior, Kyle Dalsimer.
“My favorite part of the play is how beautiful the message behind it is, and how despite a dark story, it’s written so that the audience will be rolling on the floor laughing most of the show,“ said Dalsimer.

The show overall is great and eye opening. It’s all about what people actually go through. The theme is all about acceptance and the fact that everyone should have the opportunity to live their life freely. Everyone should be able to have the choice to reveal their sexuality on their own time and in their own way; never forced out of the closet.