by Hannah Cha’25
The annual Fall Play is back! Directed by Mr. Kent, the art department head at St. Mark’s, this year’s play is Geek!, a comedy-drama play written by Crystal Skillman. Geek! It is a fast-paced, hilarious play expressing the dynamic world of cosplays and fictional anime.
A provided summary of the story is the following:
“To score a rare meeting with their comic book idol, teenage outcasts Danya and Honey will take on obsessive magic players, Jedis and elves, cosplayers and anime convention guards - through all nine flights of Ohio's Dante's Fire-Con. But when the dark nature of their quest breaks through the fantasy of their cosplaying— they find that no game can mask the deep loss they’ve recently shared… unless they truly discover who they are” (Crystal Skillman).
Geek! takes place at a comic convention for fans of an imaginary manga called Dante’s Fire. At Dante’s Fire Con, the two teenagers, Danya and Honey, are on a quest to meet Samagashi, the author of the anime. Despite starting with such a playful and joyous note, this show aims to approach more complex themes as reflected in the background of these two characters. Even though cosplay might be a unfamiliar to the audience, the play contains common issues that all people can relate to and think about. Many relatable topics can be found, such as fear, friendship, vulnerability, and courage, can be found.
Geek! had its opening night on November 15th in the Black Box Theater, and the production week lasted until the 17th. Various students and faculty members attended the performances. Thanks to all who came! The show was a culmination of hard work, dedication, and creative brilliance of all cast and crew who have been pouring their hearts to bring this play to life. Even though some unexpected situations happened, such as the main door breaking the last night, with the cooperation and improvisation of the cast and crew, they successfully ended the show. The collaborative energy seen through the show was truly memorable, as was the theatrical venture undertaken by Geek! lingered in various audiences’ hearts.