“Sexual assault happens every single day all over the world, and this story is for all those victims who need to be heard.”
This semester’s first Mainstage productions are just about here, and they are not holding back. The first two shows, Good Kids and Baltimore, are opening in rep with each other and both are sure to have audiences leaving as changed people. Directed by Sarah Wiggin and written by Naomi Iizuka, Good Kids “takes place after a high school party, when a girl, Chloe is sexually assaulted by a gang of football players while passed out drunk, and the repercussions and rumors that circulate among her peers comprise most of the play. It asks the questions: ‘What social influences can lead so many “good kids” to collectively assault a classmate, post and share the evidence on social media—not to mention not intervene while the act is happening? How can this happen?’”
Let’s take a look at how this production process has been with behind-the-scene interviews with its director, cast, and technical members.
First, we have director Sarah Wiggin, who shared her thoughts on the play’s theme and how the cast has been handling the serious subject matter. “The play addresses a number of prevalent social issues, including the pernicious notion that the onus is on women to take preventative measures to avoid such encounters, rather than on the men who act as predators. The students are handling the material very well. They are mature and recognize the need to share stories like these. I am grateful for their sensitivity and professionalism. We are also working with an Intimacy Director for the first time. That is a positive addition to our process.”
When asked what she hopes audiences will take away from this, she stated, “As the playwright Naomi Iizuka says, ‘There’s an enormous energy around the issue of sexual assault and what to do on campus. You don’t solve a problem like sexual assault with anything other than a deep shift in attitude, and a deep shift in attitude happens conversation by conversation, in dorm rooms, parties and rehearsal halls.’ I hope this production leads the audience to engage in some of those important conversations.”
Next, actors Skylar Desuk and Annie Oberholtzer gave us an insight into the story with their characters and their characters’ relationships to others. Skylar stated about her character, Skyler, that, “Skyler is one of the outsiders on the story, even more so because she puts all of the harmful events of the story on blast in the name of justice, so she tends to be alone and keep to herself. She forms temporary alliances with other characters like Tanner and Daphne, but for the most part remains a wallflower; still ready to stand up for those who need help.” Annie stated that her character Chloe is “a very independent girl. She is unafraid to confront people and push their buttons. Her individualism either draws people to her or pushes them away from her. Her presence ends up being a catalyst for change in the small town and requires people to take a harder look at themselves and the people around them.”
When asked why audiences need to see this show, they both stated, “This show is full of drama, real lessons that people need to hear, and a whole bunch of reality. Sexual assault happens every single day all over the world and this story is for all those victims who need to be heard. It is an act that is shamefully normalized and people attempt to cover it up. It is consistently important to acknowledge this danger for everyone, any kind of assault knows no bounds. Good Kids is a story of education and awareness that everyone needs to see. This show is an important depiction of how social media plays a role in everyone’s life for better or worse and how stories can get twisted around. Hopefully, audiences come away from this show wanting to have the difficult conversations required to create change.”
Finally, we spoke with the production’s Scenic Designer and Projections Designer, Riley Lathrom, on how she drew inspiration to create a set to transport audiences into the world of show. She said, “I drew a lot of inspiration from the media world we live in today. The frames that surround the set represent how we see life through screens. With the script, there are multiple points of view changes and I saw that as how we get information in today’s world with media. It was definitely a challenge, but one that I am grateful I am doing for the great work and design experience.”
Good Kids opens with a 2:30pm matinee on February 27 and continues with 7:30pm performances on March 2, 3, 8, and 9. All performances will be held in Craig Hall’s Balcony Theatre. You can BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE.
“As a company, we have talked about the proceeding conversation sparked by the events of the show. I can only hope people will really take something from this show and talk effectively about it.”
