Common topics in high school across the United States are bullying, depression, and suicide. The Searcy High School Drama department took on each of these sensitive topics in their most recent play, Freak. The play coming to Searcy was inspired by a state drama tournament, where a group performed the show and caught the attention of our drama department.
“I saw this show at State Thespian Festival last year and fell in love. I begged Mrs. Taylor to let us do it and, once it was approved, I asked for the position of director,” said student director Kara Treadwell. “I have a vision and passion for this show and a passion for directing and wanted to be a big part of bringing that vision to life.”
The play opens with a plethora of oddly dressed characters claiming that they are misunderstood in society. “You don’t know me,” they quote.
The voices reside, and the main character comes out onto the stage in single spotlight to perform a soliloquy of her miserable life. As the show progresses, the character learns that she is in between earthly life and Heaven and that she was experiencing what would come if she went through with her decision to take her life. Meeting more strange characters, she decides that this is not what she wants. As the show progresses, her choices will lead to either her death by her own hand or her continual life.
Months of extended rehearsals were required to pull off this admirable show and to ensure that it would reach the audience on a more emotional level. The topic of suicide in high schools across the United States isn’t always taken seriously, and this play serves as a kind of awakening to the severity and permanence of death by thine own hand.
“To me, Freak means hope, possibility, a second chance to save someone’s life. It made me see past the masks that people put on to pretend like they are fine,” said Victoria Cook who doubles as Kitty in the show.
Students feel like Freak differentiates from other past shows that they’ve participated in. They also feel as though this show impacted more than any of the others.
“It had a message behind it, a serious message. It was to help people, not just to entertain. I feel like it made them see and understand that just because someone says they are fine doesn’t mean they are. And that if you are considering suicide, don’t, because that is forever; this is for a time,” said Cook.
The students worked on this show since the beginning of January, three to five hours a day, three times a week.
With a ton of work, months of extensive practice, and a great cast list, Searcy High School drama department was able to pull off this dream they had and touched many lives in the process.
