Written, performed, produced and directed entirely by a company of local teens (NextUp Productions) Hunting Monsters deals with grave issues surrounding a futuristic, dystopian civil war. Set in the near future, the play centers on a bloody conflict between “patriots” who hold conservative political ideals and “rebels” who hold liberal ideologies that hinge upon an expanded welfare system.
It specifically features a group of four patriots — Amelia, Dewey, Daniel, and Gwen — who dispute sweeping, complex questions while struggling to survive in a bombed out, desolate shack. The group is divided over whether or not the killing of rebels is ever justified. Amelia and Dewey believe that taking a human life is unforgivable, while bloodthirsty Gwen jumps at any chance to exact revenge on people who have killed so many of her family members.
Another theme throughout the show involves the question of who is actually the monster during wartime. When Dewey accidentally kills someone during a physical altercation, an onlooker reassures him that he acted in self-defense — “You may have killed, but she murdered” — showing that perhaps killing others is sometimes necessary in war. Dewey then turns to God in the emotional resolution of the show, asking, “Why do you let this happen?”
It was interesting to see the perspective of high schoolers on these big topics, although in the end, they posed more questions than answers. But that’s perfectly fine. The success of Hunting Monsters was dependent on its ability to make viewers ponder questions about death and morals that they would not otherwise encounter in their day-to-day lives.
Each character in Hunting Monsters has a clear, developed backstory as to why they took up the patriot cause. The plot was easy to follow and although the dialogue slowed down somewhat in the middle of this 50-minute production, it picked back up near the end due to a well-executed fight scene. The cast of six brought the script to life, and the interactions between them — from deep debates to heated arguments — seemed completely organic and natural.
The School for Creative and Performing Art’s intimate theater contained seating on all four sides, allowing audience members to connect with the actors in a way that would not be feasible in a bigger space. The set was a spare hut, further developing the dystopian setting. The actors were always articulate enough to be heard, even when whispering.
All in all, Hunting Monsters was a thought-provoking show that dealt with deep themes involving life, death, war and God — an interesting choice for high schoolers to take on, but a successful endeavor nonetheless.
Sarah Morgan is entering her senior year at Mariemont High School. She has been a critic for the Cappies, a recognition program for high school theater students and their productions. Her critique was named the best for the 2014-2015 school year, and she was invited to review one of the 2015 FringeNext productions.
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This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2015.
