High schoolers at John Milledge Academy debuted an original play, Love’s Poison, at their one act competition on Oct. 29.
“We had a smaller cast with majority females, so we were finding it difficult to pick a play,” said Rebecca Brasher, the school’s drama teacher and director of the play.
“So, my students proposed we create our own play.”
Love’s Poison was brainstormed by the class and written by Brasher with the assistance of junior Jenna Clark and third grade teacher Katherine Smith.
“We mapped out the play in one class period and focused on Greek mythology. We decided to take the story of Persephone and put it in the perspective of the other goddesses. It is primarily in Demeter’s perspective.”
According to Brasher, Clarke took initiative to write many of the goddesses’ interactions within the script.
Brasher and Smith then rounded out the script from Clarke’s additions.
The script was completed within a few days.
“Building this play from scratch improved all of the kid’s problem-solving skills and creativity.
Especially Jenna, who took the initiative and wrote her part of the script in the car traveling to a soccer game,” said Brasher. “The students were very committed to this play and I’m so proud of them for taking this risk, committing their time to production, and expressing their creativity.”
The main cast of the play included Emma McRaw, Taylor Humphrey, Butler DuPree, Alexa Buckner, Jenna Clark, Elle Ethridge, Anna Dyer, London Lyle and Farrah Meeks. Behind the scenes Elizabeth Marsh, Campbell Thomson and Ashley Tyson worked as the technical crew, Logan Brasher constructed the set, Korbin Holloway and Liam Thompson were part of the stage crew, and London Lyle was also the make-up designer.
Along with being a writer and member of the main cast, Clark also acted as assistant director to the play.
“I couldn’t have been more pleased when Love’s Poison debuted on stage.
After working on it for two months and building it from nothing, it was just astonishing to see what we built on paper come to life,” said Brasher.
According to Brasher, their home performance was packed, and the one act audience was amazing as well.
“ Love’s Poison was very well-received by our audiences,” said Brasher. “I am very proud and pleased with how it turned out.”
While Love’s Poison will not be performed at state, leaving the cast a bit disappointed, Brasher expressed that she has big hopes for its future and does plan to have the play return later.
“This is not a script I want to retire. This cast, crew, and play will always have a special place in my heart,” said Brasher.
“And we are open for other schools to use our script if they wish.”
Love’s Poison placed third in the one act competition and, according to Brasher, nothing but honest work and good heart were put into the performance.
Soon, the cast and crew will be giving a viewing for upper elementary and middle school students to meet the cast in costumes and offer extra-curricular connections to the play and their classes.
“We want to tie it all together on campus to celebrate the work that my students did,” said Brasher. “Because despite not going to state, Love’s Poison could not have been a better success.”