The Monster Under the Bed
at West Springfield High School

Reviewed on November 16, 2018

JohnHenry Stamper
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Have you ever feared the monsters under your bed? Fear no more! West Springfield High School's production of The Monster Under the Bed proves that the creatures living in the mess beneath your bed can harbor the greatest of friendships.

West Springfield High School's The Monster Under the Bed follows a boy named Ben and his adventures of exploring the monster-filled world beneath his bed, while learning to face his fears and treasure his friends, old and new. He swaps lives with his new friend, Monster, and things soon go awry for the dynamic duo once thrust into a world that is not their own. This cute children's play was written by Kevin Dyer and premiered in 2009 in the United Kingdom, only to become more popular from there.

This production was anchored on an active and energetic cast and an inventive, effectual set design. The large ensemble of school children was nothing short of entertaining. Even though they did not have a significant amount of stage time, they were all able to portray solidified, thought-out, and hilarious characters. The set design by Aidan Donohue was incredible, being able to depict the "underbed" and "overbed" innovatively; and the design eliminated the need for stage transitions altogether.

Connor Brunson's portrayal of Ben was enrapturing, capturing childlike imagination and creativity with ease, thus connecting the audience to his plight and making them all feel like kids again. Also, Sonya Maria Leon's portrayal of the Monster was captivating and charming. She crafted a character voice that resembles a kid-monster, and thankfully, was not harsh on the ears, which is quite difficult to avoid when embodying someone that is not human. Brunson and Leon's chemistry was absolutely believable, filling our hearts with their genuine and unlikely bond.

Created out of commonly forgotten items and standing at about 10 feet tall, Martin Desjardins had some literally big shoes to fill as Dad Monster, and he bravely and successfully did just that. Even though Desjardins was not physically seen on stage, he did a fantastic job personifying a giant heap of clothes and lost articles.

The ensemble of the puppeteers controlling Dad Monster and his surrounding piles of clothes performed a strenuous and difficult job impressively. With the combined efforts of the puppeteers, Desjardins expressive voice, and the quick light changes, a multitude of emotions were illustrated within Dad Monster. Also, the overall sound was expertly done. The microphones were not too loud, the quick and accurate sound effects only added to the show, and the music selection by Jonas Wagner was beautiful.

A combination of excellent technical aspects as well as stellar actors, West Springfield High School's production of The Monster Under the Bed touched the hearts of all the audience members, sparked that little bit of imagination within us all, and made us want to lean over and hug our friends.

Beverly D'Andrea
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Where do missing jigsaw puzzles pieces or old watches without minute hands go? Where is it that even "woozles" and "grufelumps" fear to venture? West Springfield High School showed us, with innocence and purity, in their heartwarming production of "The Monster Under the Bed."

The show introduces us to Ben and the friendly, and mischievous, monster who lives under Ben's bed. When the monster offers to switch places with Ben, madness and a roller coaster of laughs follow. Ben meets the monster's father and the monster must cope with school and Ben's over-loving girlfriend.

The play was written by Kevin Dyer. It was originally produced by the Polka Theatre in the United Kingdom in 2009. The show is light-hearted and funny and will engage audiences of all ages with its simple, effective humor.

The monster was played by Sonya Maria Leon, who drew the audience into her acting with her innocent, open face. Leon played her character's rambunctious but genuine nature perfectly. She added the right blend of comedic timing and devilish, child-like mischief to sell an other-worldly monster as a perfectly natural phenomena to the audience. Ben, the monster's friend, was played by Connor Brunson. Brunson used physicality and vocal changes to show the audience the mixed emotions of childhood freeness, and constraining sadness brought on by his father's absence. Brunson developed his character into a more confident Ben in the second act, showing the shift cleverly through subtle, but effective, differentiation in character choices.

Martin Desjardins was the voice of the father monster and his character was given a sense of life by skillful puppeteers Mia Bridges, Emily Norton, Kaitlyn Bourjaily, Sarah Oestereicher, and Jaye Frazier. To make a puppet seem alive with mostly your voice alone is difficult, but Desjardins did a fantastic job, incorporating many vocal adjustments that made the puppet a gruff, yet likable character. Desjardins's emotive voice and the puppeteer's realistic movements made Father Monster one of the most compelling characters in the entire show. Celine, Ben's clingy girlfriend, was played to pouty perfection by Ashtyn Spring. Spring's dynamic, constant energy made her a believable child, and her confident pronouncement that she was going to marry Ben, "with a cake and in a church" drew many laughs from her audience. Spring showed her character's overbearing presence well through over top physical actions. She established herself as the toughest kid on the playground when she pulled off very realistic stage combat in which she blackened Anthony's (Steven "Fish" Smith) eye.

This show is all about another world with monsters and make-believe, so the tech team had a real opportunity to add a lot to the story, and West Springfield's tech team did so impeccably. The lighting, designed by Murtuza Rizvi, was used effectively to show the shift from the "over-bed world", the regular world, to "under-bed world", the world of the monsters. The set, designed by Aidan Donohue, also was cleverly crafted to show the two levels of the bedroom. The puppets and props, designed by Alanna Garagliano and Lydia Desjardins, were all created artistically and Sfunctionally, adding a lot to the wonder of the under-bed and the counterbalancing normality of the over-bed.

Using "refridgilators" and monsters in slow-motion dance as their tools, West Springfield created for their audience a truly beautiful, innocent, and genuine reminder of childhood joy.

Jalin Dew
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

Tossing and turning in your sleep, you heard the pitter-patter of claws underneath you. Hot breath hit your face a terrifying presence loomed over you. But when your eyes shot open...nothing was there but an uneasiness in your gut. It was impossible to catch the mysterious beast that haunted your childhood. At least, that was until now. In West Springfield's latest production, face your fears, and finally meet "The Monster Under the Bed".

"The Monster Under the Bed" is a children's play written by Kevin Dyer. The show made its debut in the United Kingdom's Polka Theatre in 2009. Set in the UK, the play follows young Ben and the monster that resides under his bed, who's not terrifying at all! The unlikely pair meet as Ben prepares for a dreaded day of school. Distraught by his best mate, Vince, stealing a of special binoculars, a parting gift by his military-deployed father,Ben enlists his new friend to retrieve them by agreeing to switching lives for a day. Their journey is chock-full of heartwarming moments, comedy, and the lesson of overcoming what scares you the most.

Connor Brunson portrayed as Ben, and expertly so. Brunson's nostalgic childhood innocence is charming, making the junior appear several years younger. The task of encapsulating the child spirit is difficult to accomplish, but Brunson took it in stride in an unfaltering performance; his realization of a children's dreams and anxieties brought about a brilliant, dynamic, and memorable character that the audiences could feel for and relate to.

Sonya Maria Leon presents Luke, the monster that lives under Ben's bed. The crowd's adoration for Leon's performance could hardly be ignored. Perhaps one of the strongest comedic performances by a student, every ludicrous and amusing appearance left the audience tickled pink. Sheer commitment to the characterization enhanced the performance by a large margin. Leon meticulously accomplished chipper, bouncy saunters, along with "monstrously" delightful dialect the actress spoke with.

Masterful puppeteers Mia Bridges, Emily Norton, Kaitlyn Bourjaily, Sarah Oestereicher, and Jaye Frazier, combined with the voice acting of Martin Desjardins, brought the gargantuan Dad Monster to life. Likely spanning over ten feet tall, the small few who operated the beast achieved jaw-dropping elegance and continuity, stealing attention in their very first appearance. Desjardins' compelling bass voice only made the Dad Monster, otherwise known as Custard, feel more alive than the massive puppet already did.

Spartan Theatre's set lived and breathed as its actors did. Consisting of two stories, the set crew sought to give the space below Ben's bed a world of its own. Clothes and junk strewn all over, along with mounds that served as extensions of Dad Monster, gave this "underworld" life. Lighting and sound only further encapsulated the audience in the tech teams' objective to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. Helping the crowd glimpse into the mind of a child, the luscious, textured lighting and sound design through the clouds, sea beds, and army trenches.

West Springfield accomplished incredible feats of professionalism in their production of "The Monster Under the Bed". From an astonishing array of characters to the comprehensive puppetry and stage design, they brought a story of friendship, peace, and perseverance that captured our hearts like a child with their blankie; they held on tight, and never let go.

Julia Tucker
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Long, sharp claws. Ferocious pointy teeth. Feasts on misbehaving children for snacks. Whether they ever make an appearance or not, every kid has one-a beast living under the bed. But what if all the conjecture is not true? In West Springfield High School's adorable production of The Monster Under the Bed they answer the question: what if the beast is not all that bad?

Written by Kevin Dyer and published by Polka Theatre in 2009, The Monster Under the Bed is a kid's show that can be enjoyed by all ages. Set in England, it follows the hectic day of protagonist Ben and his newfound friend, Luke, otherwise known as the monster under his bed. Not wanting to go to school, Ben and the monster Luke agree to swap places, leading to a Freaky Friday-esque situation that opens both Ben and Luke's eyes to worlds they have never seen before.

Every member of the ensemble was engaged and had a clear character. In an eye-watering hilarious sequence, Luke the Monster wrecked the school dance, and each member of the ensemble had to react to the chaos in slow motion. When everyone was wearing expressions of shock and horror it immersed the audience in the play and added to the fun and creative aspect of the scene.

Childlike wonder radiated off Connor Brunson as he portrayed the main protagonist, Ben. Brunson collaborated with his castmates in under-the-bed scenes to create exciting and interesting visuals, whether it was a captivating fight scene or a magical underwater moment. Luke, otherwise known as Monster, was wonderfully played by Sonya Maria Leon. Leon never held back with her physicalization or vocalization, making the monster character come to life. Leon used a gruff voice and said made-up words with confidence and maintained high energy through the duration of the show. Even if she was not vested in the monster suit, it would be clear to any audience member that she was the oddball in any scene.

Through superlative voice acting, Martin Desjardins inhabited the role of Dad Monster. Acting without the assistance of facial expressions and physicalization is challenging, but Desjardins was up for the task. His vocal variety was amazingly expressive and conveyed the monster's feelings, happy, sad, or otherwise. Celine, Ben's "fiancée," was hilariously depicted by Ashtyn Spring. Her assertive, bossy demeanor combined with her comedically aggressive movements solidified her character.

The technological aspects of the show were not only imaginative but also well-designed. The set designed by Aidan Donohue featured a two-story construction that had secret passageways leading from one level to be next. Actors could disappear behind the bed on the top of the set and be in the under-bed/lower level of the set in seconds. The Dad Monster constructed by Alanna Garagliano and Lydia Desjardins was eye-catching and inventive. The puppet began at the beginning of the show as an inconspicuous pile of clothing, only to wake up and transform into a monster with eyes, a mouth, and a hand. The show was well publicized by Madeline Howard. Howard used everything from coloring pages to flash mobs to ensure the whole school knew about the upcoming production.

As Ben's day concludes, he realizes that the things he once feared are actually not as scary as he once believed them to be. West Springfield's production of The Monster Under the Bed reinvigorated the childhood lust for adventure and imagination in every person who viewed the show.

Amanda Wilfong
Freedom High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

The Monster Under The Bed, presented by West Springfield High School, was thoroughly entertaining for viewers of all ages, snatching the attention and laughter of practically the entire audience. The plot revolves around Ben, a young boy that stumbles across an actual monster who is living under his bed, with whom Ben switches places for the day. The show debuted in the Polka Theatre, in the United Kingdom in 2009. In West Springfield's production of it, they successfully upheld the play's British roots through the impressive use of believable yet understandable accents by every single actor in the show.

Connor Brunson, who portrayed the role of Ben, instantly captured the hearts of everyone in the audience. His youthful energy and playful personality solidified the image of a little boy that he tried to convey, which was believable the entire time. Sonya Maria Leon perfectly fit the role of the zany yet sweet Monster found under Ben's bed, causing every scene that she participated in to burst with energy and enthusiasm. What stood out during her performance was the physicality she used, altering certain actions like jumping around and walking to make herself seem even more like a unique creature, which contributed heavily to the entertaining and comedic aspects of the show. Both Brunson and Leon established distinctive relationships not only with each other, but with all those around them, making the world of the play much more real.

Captivating performances by supporting roles are what brought this production to the next level. Zoey Barnett, portraying the role of Ben's teacher, Miss Rowlands, commanded the stage with every appearance, and added depth and detail to a very simple character. Steven "Fish" Smith also did a phenomenal job at making the simple role of Anthony stand out throughout the performance by combining the perfect amount of arrogance and comedy. Easily one of the most impressive appearances of the show was that of Martin Desjardins as the Dad Monster, whose face and body were never shown during the play, but who was still able to create a clear character filled with emotion using only his voice. He effortlessly showed various different sides of the role and displayed perfect character shifts.

Many of the technical aspects of the production were very effective and well-executed. The set pieces and puppetry were what really enhanced the show. The set pieces were extremely intricate, with numerous tiny details which transported the audience to a completely different world. The breathtaking puppet that represented the Dad Monster was consistently in sync with the words being spoken by Desjardins, and all puppets used during the play were very detailed and creative. The puppeteers were also in full costume and makeup, immersing themselves in the environment.

West Springfield created a production of The Monster Under The Bed that was a truly amusing and playful experience, perfect for people of all ages who are seeking high energy levels, talented individuals, and endless amounts of fun!

Sarah Bourgeois
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

A young boy sits pouting on his bed about having to go to school. As he shoves his uniform and breakfast aside in agitation, a fuzzy purple hand arises from under his bed and steals his breakfast! Moments after a rigorous munching resonates throughout the bedroom, the fuzzy purple hand emerges to reveal it is attached to a fuzzy purple monster, in West Springfield High School's production of The Monster Under the Bed.

The Monster Under the Bed was meticulously crafted by Kevin Dyer. The play was originally produced as a staged read, in which actors performed with scripts in hand, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The plot follows a boy by the name of Ben and a monster by the name of Luke. Ben's father is currently deployed in military service, but gave him a pair of binoculars as a gift before he left. When Ben's trusty binoculars are stolen, Luke goes to school in his place in a daring attempt to get them back. While waiting for Luke to complete the reconnaissance mission, a voice bellows from under his bed. Ben soon learns that his monster's father also resides there, and he's held captive by Dad Monster until Luke returns home. Ben and Luke must adhere to the people (or monsters) around them to survive a day in the other's world.

Luke was portrayed by Sonya Maria Leon with spontaneous energy. As she pranced about the stage on her way to school, she bounced around playfully and took an interest in the spiders and dogs she passed by, exhibiting her youthful presence. Connor Brunson portrayed Ben with an undisputed commitment to the role. After Dad Monster, portrayed by Martin Desjardins, opened up to him about his depleting vision and daily life, Brunson displayed a deeper understanding of the way of the monsters while maintaining a defined childlike energy. Desjardins embraced his friendship with Brunson as they played at the front lies of war or swam in the depths of the ocean. They achieved a playful dynamic that grew as they bonded.

While Luke was pretending to be Ben at his school, he came across Ben's girlfriend, Celine (Ashtyn Spring). Spring established a caring yet intense relationship while staying true to their age. While choosing partners for a dance exercise in class, Spring marched up to Leon and expressed her excitement over the fact that they were partners. As she spoke, her words became sharp and demanding to reiterate that they're an item, and that will not change unless she says so. Spring carried this domineering personality without hesitation.

Aidan Donohue's set design contains a clean, well lit bedroom sitting on top of a platform. Below the platform lurks the eerie under bed, made of old clothes and long lost toys and knick knacks. Three piles of clothes dominated the center of the under bed scene, sometimes shaking or producing various lost object at the hands of the puppeteers (Mia Bridges, Emily Norton, Kaitlyn Bourjaily, Sarah Oestereicher, and Jaye Frazier). A horrendous mound of clothing to the right made up the puppet for Dad Monster, whose eyes, mouth, and hand were maneuvered by puppeteers as the actor spoke.

As the young boy's mother returns home from a long day at work, she cracks open an imaginary book and tells her bright eyed son a wistful story of monsters and "marma-marma-marmalade," which was just what he needed to bring an eventful day to a close in West Springfield's production of The Monster Under the Bed.