The Play’s the Thing!

Take a dollop of Shakespeare’s tragic King Lear, a dash of the television series “Game of Thrones,” and add a splash of comic Disney characters such as the Little Mermaid and Pocahontas. Throw in a scene-stealing blood-packet girl and keep adding princesses plus a simpering Prince Charming and one has the recipe for the very funny “Game of Tiaras.” The comic/tragedy is made of characters who don’t recognize their own ridiculousness or the seriousness of their actions. This was the fall play presented by Mrs. Kenel’s theater class on Nov. 14 and 15.

When the aging king of a Magical Kingdom (England) decides to split his kingdom between his three daughters, Cinderella the Queen of Nightmares, Belle the only one that approaches normal, and Ellie or the Snow Queen (Snow White), the killing begins as the daughters jockey for position as the tragedy unfolds. The daughters and their minions are willing to stop at nothing including murder if necessary to get a part of their father’s kingdom.

The three daughters are portrayed by Sophia May as Cinderella, Keira McBeth as Ellie, and Belle played by Khloe Upton. They bring their characters to life, warts and all, with a “winner take all mentality.” They are loud and threatening, but not really very scary. They are combined with Disney characters and Prince Charming, excellently played by Jayden Bergman, who will take whichever princess “wins” the game of tiaras. What’s love got to do with it … right?

There are references to the Lord of the Rings, Cinderella, and Frozen along with the iconic Disney Princess movies so people will understand and get the joke.

It combines the plot twists of Game of Thrones and the climate of despair from the Shakespearean tragedy, yet will leave one laughing as murder and mayhem abound in ridiculous ways. Swords, knives, arrows, and beheadings are their tools, yet at the end the princesses are all dead and the King, who started it all, is dead too. Matthew Rogers, playing dual roles as the King and a French Prince, had a commanding presence every time he takes the stage. He conveys to the audience that he’s having a great time.

In the end, almost everyone is dead and that seems right, and the audience has chuckled along with every ridiculous plot twist and knife twist, for that matter.

The costumes were first rate as was the set design. Kudos to the legion of students that were called the crew. They handled the props, the sound, the lighting, and the marketing. The stage manager, Brandin Dusenberry and the assistant stage manager, Belle Busby, kept everyone on track as opening night approached.

This very “fun” play was overseen by Director Tori Kenel and Production Manager Lauren Jones. They had a very large cast and crew of over 50, yet they guided these students to a first-rate production.

These kids have worked for many weeks to make this play come to life. They did a great job. If you missed it, vow to come to the next production. It’s a great way to support the New London students and have a great night at the theater!