Vixen LaFey (Ella Holderbaum), who thinks of herself as more fox than human, acquaints herself with a knight she just met, Sir Thomas Reynard (Tristen Garretson). (Andy Hallman/The Union)

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The Broadway Players of FHS will present the play Tooth & Tail three times this weekend in the Edgeton, Mitcheltree, Slechta Auditorium at Fairfield High School.

Performances are this Friday and Saturday, April 25th and 26th at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday the 27th at 2 pm. Tickets are available at the door for $6 or free with a FCSD Activity Pass. It is general seating with the house opening thirty minutes prior to each performance.

Tooth & Tail by Elizabeth A.M. Keel is a comedy, action-adventure play which takes place in a fantasy world. In the beginning, we meet two young women, Jessica Glass, a sheltered ladylike milliner, and Vixen LaFey, a free spirit raised by wild foxes. Despite their differences, they are best friends and love to read stories together.

The girls’ dynamic changes drastically when a knight, Sir Thomas Reynard, crosses Vixen’s path and the two share an immediate attraction. Unable to handle her jealousy, Jessica seeks the help of a witch, but the spell she asks for is not the curse that is received.

Years pass, and the bulk of the plot is centered around the kidnapping of Princess Plumeria. Now Pirate Captain Jessica and Mercenary Vixen have become sworn enemies. They find themselves in conflict over custody of the princess, and unresolved personal issues. On the road back to her kingdom of Auria, Plumeria meets pirates, a dragon, faces evil horses and sock monsters, and learns to camp. More importantly she comes to understand honor, sacrifice, death, love, and loyalty.

What drew me to this script was the strength of the writing. It is exciting and funny with wide appeal while still being clever and thought provoking. The plot focusing on multidimensional, realistic, and flawed female characters also caught my attention. I’m always looking for shows with quality roles for girls, and or flexible casting, and this show has both.

Tooth & Tail is quite new, the world premiere production was in May of 2023. I’m seeing a trend with newer work that playwrights are becoming more generous with the options given to directors in terms of gender blind casting.

With a show set in a fantasy world, the design possibilities are pretty open-ended. My overall design concept was based on various children’s picture book illustrations. The reading, telling, and remembering of adventure stories are important to several characters, so I wanted the performance to feel like stepping into a colorful fantasy book that doesn’t have to play by the rules of our world. Characters can be played by puppets. Socks can grow on trees. Those trees can be pink and purple. Cast and crew have enjoyed creating and playing in this fantastical space.

The student cast includes: Ella Holderbaum (Vixen LaFey), Manon Kermott (Jessica Glass), Daisy Trent (Princess Plumeria), Tristen Garretson (Sir Thomas/Flicker), Paige Bisgard (Corp. Molly Zephyr/Hooch), Madalyn Smithburg (Grainne, Ensemble), Lelan Blomme (King Ivy and Snotbite), Elliott Ward (Gnawbone), Laney Bowers (Queen Ivy, Ensemble) Jay Hames (Captain of the Guard, Ensemble), rounding out the cast in various Ensemble Roles are Bella Jaeger, Divya Keith, Trinity Rowland, Adeliz Suastegui, and Miracle Weathers.

Members of student crew include: Bidhi Dangol, Ronan Daniels, Mia Gates, Lola Kensel, Rorey Krause, Stormy Lint, Mei Martinez, Charlie McKerley, Kat Phippen, Arissa Pohren, Toby Sutherland, Gretta Winheim, and Pearl Winheim.

Adult crew includes: Ms. Noel Wotherspoon (Director), Mr. Meshari Alnouri (Technical Director), Mrs. Betsie Wotherspoon (Costume Mistress), Mr. Sam Garles (Fight Choreographer), Ms. Alesha Hall and other Bovard Studios volunteer artists (scenic painting).