Reviews: A Monster Calls at South Lakes High School
Written by Bella Pachon of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
In the garden of an English home, an ancient yew tree stands. Are you ready to hear the tales its branches weave? If so, journey to the production of A Monster Calls at South Lakes High School.
A Monster Calls is a play based on the novel by Patrick Ness, with the original concept created by Siobhan Dowd. The tale follows Conor, a boy coping with his mother's cancer, and The Monster, the embodiment of the yew tree outside his home who visits each night to tell him stories of the past.
Guiding us through his world both awake and asleep was the young Conor, played by Jahlil Greene. Greene's uncertain stubbornness in his first interaction with The Monster (Liam Birch) presented his tough but timid nature in the face of tragedy. Greene then lets this fury boil over at the end of the first act, smashing vases and tearing apart pillows in a scene of utter destruction, contrasting his previously feeble nature seen earlier as he's bullied.
At Conor's window each night at 12:07 was The Monster, portrayed by Liam Birch. Birch's commanding presence and powerfully precise steps across the stage brought the ancient yew tree to life, creating intimidating moments like that of The Monster overtaking Conor in an attempt to defend him against his bullies (Joshua Learned, Shirom Kumar, and Marissa Ospina). Birch later leaves behind this imposing image, letting down his guard to let Conor hug him at the story's solemn end.
At the heart of this production of grief and fantasy was the Core Ensemble, guiding the audience through the tales of both The Monster and Conor with the methodical manipulation of the set, composed of ropes suspended across the stage (designed by Grace Gibbens, Ellah Skoy, and the A Monster Calls Scenic Design & Construction Crew). This dynamic ensemble effectively utilized interpretive dance and the set surrounding them to create anything from an old kingdom to an English Language & Literature classroom.
The projections, with animations designed by Taylor Clawson, and edited by Emilie Fiske and Isabelle Phillippe, added a layer of haunting chaos across the show and a glimpse inside Conor's head. From flashing images throughout Conor's nightmares to fantastical drawings of kings, queens, and apothecaries through The Monster's tales, the projections transported the audience between the realms of fantasy and reality.
Creating branches between all the characters and stories were the costumes, designed by Sara Moezie, Monarch Courtman, & the A Monster Calls Costumes Crew. The greens and browns of the Core Ensemble's costumes allowed them to complement the deep yew berry red of The Monster's costume, further emphasizing his power and presence.
In a show that beautifully portrays the pain and beauty of grief and tugs on our heartstrings to do it, South Lakes High Schools' A Monster Calls leaves us knowing that stories truly are the wildest thing of all.
Written by Mary Campbell of Westfield High School
Some monsters aim to terrify, others wish to harm, but this monster's goal is to force the confrontation of truth. South Lakes High School's surreal and cathartic production of A Monster Calls embraced the duality of stories and complexity of life as it explored the long and excruciating process of grief.
Author Siobhan Dowd conceptualized A Monster Calls shortly before dying of breast cancer. The novel was finished by Patrick Ness and later adapted for the stage by Sally Cookson. In the story, thirteen-year-old Conor is continuously bullied at school, his mother is battling terminal cancer, and he suffers from a petrifying recurring nightmare. One night, he is visited by The Monster: a personification of an ancient yew tree who strikes Conor a bargain. The Monster will tell Conor three tales, and in return Conor must tell one story that contains the truth behind his nightmare.
The Core, a dance ensemble that served as an extension of The Monster and depicted his stories, moved fluidly through the tales and solemnly observed Conor's life in the real world. The juxtaposition between The Core's flowing dance in the tales' dreamy realm and their unshakable presence in reality assisted to distinguish the two settings.
Playing The Monster, Liam Birch embodied the ferocity and strength of his character through his stance, walk, and voice. When still, Birch remained stiff and steadfast, with clenched fists and shoulders thrust back; when moving, he prowled the stage, every step menacing and exact. His rich voice commanded and mesmerized, maintaining clarity and projection that emphasized The Monster's otherworldliness and ensured that each line was understood. These traits prevailed throughout most of the show when The Monster brutally insisted that Conor listen to the stories and tell his own. When Conor revealed his story and truth, however, Birch's demeanor softened. His shoulders loosened, his hands relaxed, and his expression shifted to care and sympathy, unveiling The Monster's unexpected humanity. As Conor, Jahlil Greene navigated the character's multifaceted grief, showing how he slowly accepted his mother's inevitable death using poignant facial expressions whether cowering with fear
or erupting with anger. Upon confronting his mother's impending fate and his own internalized guilt, Greene let out a guttural cry, his desperate voice and collapsed body emitting sheer despair.
Joshua Learned played Conor's bully Harry with cocky arrogance through his vexatious smirk and stereotypical swagger. As Harry's accomplice Sully, Marissa Ospina exuded impudence with large, harsh gestures. Shirom Kumar's Anton expressed hesitance with the duo's cruelty through constrained movements and a reluctant tone.
The Animation and Video Editing team created a moving backdrop that the piece was set against, incorporating the show's overall themes and reinforcing each scene's mood. The Monster's tales unfolded before hand-drawn animations by Taylor Clawson, whereas scenes in reality were primarily framed by video collages edited by Emilie Fisk and Isabelle Philippe. The entire production was united by the motif of the color red, evoking both looming danger and the vibrant hew of poisonous yew berries. The lighting team (Alexandra Farrell, Eamon O'Leary, and Sebastian Harman) incorporated the color to backlight The Monster and flood the entire space during fight sequences. The props team (Sophia Shelley,Sydney Penn, and the Props Crew) used the color in both the weapons within the stories and the blanket draped across the hospital bed.
As the show closed, a boy crashed into a monster's embrace, finally allowing himself to be comforted for the anguish that was always pursuing him. Through their striking artistry, the cast and crew of A Monster Calls proved the power of storytelling and the necessity of acknowledging the truth.