Daily Campfire Reviews is an website independently run by Danonn Mwangi, Brooke Lovell, and Amelia Hooper for the review and critique of the many different theater productions and other events put on by Blue Valley High School.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

February 27th, 2025

What do side characters do when they are no longer useful? What do they do when they need to pass the time? Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are dead aimed to answer that question. This seventh-hour rep show was a fun comedy twist on Hamlet from the perspective of minor characters named, you guessed it, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern. Everybody strap in because this is a long one...

From the audience's perspective, the show was enjoyable to watch. From a critic's perspective, this show lacked a little of the charm and energy that I know this group can bring. The play -as written- is a bit talky and meandering, I do feel they did a good job adding energy and life into the show, but, on occasion, I felt a bit like we didn't understand fully what was being said or what a certain scene was about. It's kind of a nitpick, I know, but as a performer, especially in a show that's more difficult for the audience to understand, it's your job to lead them through it. 

I like the choice to add transition visuals to break up the scenes. It helped with the feeling we were watching two characters talk statically for the whole show and brought up the energy a lot. Out of every scene transition, I would say the Ribbons one on the boat was my personal favorite. I mean a Les Mis reference in a rep show? Unheard of. Second has to be the Umbrella one. It was clean and crisp and had a cool visual effect to it. Mainly I just liked the rhythm of synchronized umbrellas. Plus one point to team band kids. The Buckets one was a close third, especially considering that impressive toss from the catwalk, but the timing got a little off, and didn't quite recover until the end.

For a comedy on a scale of 7 am math class to witch cackle, I give this show a light exhale out of my nose. It wasn't laugh-out-loud funny, and that's par for the course considering how it is written, but I just wish more of the cast made comedic choices to elevate the material.

 I thought the second half was much better than the first half due to the dramedy vibe. It kept the tone more consistent as we saw more of Hamlet and the ending was unfolding. The team seems to be leaning a bit more towards drama; as opposed to the comedy-focused powerhouse of the previous year which is not a bad thing. Glimpse of this could already be seen in great successes like Fated which showcased that drama can be a strong suit for this group as well. 

I wish some of the more experienced members of the cast like Sarah Tonkin and Joey Dioszeghy weren't relegated to such small parts. I would have liked to see a bit more of them especially Sarah after her success in FNL #1 and Hadestown. In regards to the split casting, It was at times a bit awkward, but I didn't think it was too jarring and the split was pretty even among performers.

Tech-wise this show was pretty straight forward and costuming was very well done. It was nice, for the opening, to see Michael Muller out of the booth. Speaking of the opening scene, Anna Schumacher was a brilliant choice to start the show. I mean sure, the "Heads" bit did get a little old, especially because it took up a good 80% of Anna's lines, but far and away her British accent was the best in this show. Even aside from that, her timing and banter were fantastic elevated of course by Michael, with him playing off of her. 

Performer wise I feel like this was a bit of a mixed bag. The fun of doing a split cast show (outside of middle school) is the differences in the way each performer tackles the character and like I mentioned previously this was an underdeveloped avenue. I don't want to be too general, but some people did have some major successes:

Lila Schlagel was on it with the banter making her so much fun to watch. One thing I love about her performance is that she brought her personality to Guildenstern along with the established things we already know about them.

Bailey Hughes and Rameen Zaidi brought a strong and regal energy to their character which I liked. Casually chatting about the show with Yarnell he had some particularly glowing things to say about working with Bailey, so shout out to you. Additional Shout out to stage manager Kylie Shafer for covering for Tori Rounds, not many can pull a Nick Hays and she did so flawlessly. I imagine Nick somewhere feeling very proud all of a sudden without a reason why. 

One person I felt really merged the Drama and Comedy was Lillie Mikuls. While actors like Andrew Monahan brought really strong comedic choices there we others on the dramatic side doing the same. The stand-out thing with Lillie was her ability to synthesize the two. Lillie made all the jokes read and her physicality elevated them. the checking in on Hamlet bit cracked me up. On the other side, the dramatics near the end could not have blended so smoothly without her. She fully embodied the internal struggle of a character that realizes their free will was taken from them. Well played, Golden Child...

Actually, I want to toot my own horn a bit, have you noticed the best performer in the review gets the "Well That's Just Great!" in their class' following show? I'm just saying with Caleigh and Andrew Mazzapica I'm 2/2 on my predictions. Only time will tell if I'm as observant as I think. (Isabelle, pull through! I believe in you!)

  Speaking of Mazz, who knew he had those dramatic acting chops in him? That ending monologue was spine-chilling and helped the ending feel more satisfying as opposed to silly. He did a really good job embracing the weight of the moment and letting it rest on the audience to ponder their fate. He was definitely deserving, congratulations.

 But, when I spoke to the cast afterward there seemed to be an underlying sentiment of "just getting it over with". I do not believe at any level that Rosencrantz was a bad show and audience members enjoyed it thoroughly. Sometimes as performers, we can only see what went wrong. The audience doesn't know that a line was missed or an entrance was delayed and we tend to beat ourselves up until we lose enthusiasm for a project. My advice: Don't be glad that it's over, be glad that you showed tenacity when you weren't thrilled about the concept or the process. You worked hard on a show for a good chunk of time, there's merit in that. :)

With all the yibber yabber out of the way let's get to the juiciest part... without further ado your best performer is...

Colton Feiger as The Player!

Colton brought life to the script with his unique character choices and comedic style. His line delivery was guaranteed to get a laugh every time and electric physicality. The pace got a jumpstart every time a Player scene would begin and it was really refreshing. As a performer, Colton has grown a lot and has come to be a figurehead for the department at least in my eyes. His comedic prowess and dramatic abilities (coupled with improv skillz XD) make him tough to beat. I hope to see more of him, not so he can top his previous work, but to continue to observe the diverse range of things he can do. I tip my hat to you!

Overall, as I've heard from a lot of the cast members this show faced a lot of setbacks. From Snow days to, Sickness, to the choir's trip to San Antonio, they've had to persevere through a lot and I'm proud of them for doing their best to make things work.  In the future, I hope their next show has a bit more of that polish that makes seventh-hour shows so fantastic. 

Till next time, With a little talk with your counselor, and a lot of theatre classes, you too can flop on the floor with all your best friends. KA-CHOW!

Written by Danonn Mwangi

Peter/Wendy

This review took too dang long, happy 2025

In the flurry of the busy holiday season, the titular Peter Wendy did inspire my wonder. I mean, there's no other show I'd rather watch in full hair, makeup, and costume. With this one, the whimsical set design and unique staging set this show apart. 

I loved the funky spoken word intro and how it ties back in at the end. The opening dialog between Wendy's parents was a bit hard to hear but still enjoyable, it was also a bit fast for me. I sat all the way across the room, so I lost most of it unfortunately. The perils of open seating, I guess. I liked the pace in the back and forth between Wendy and Peter when they were first introduced, it really kept the energy up. To be honest, I don't know if it was just my usual density, but the plot was sort of lost on me near the beginning, and the picture was more fully clear near the end. 

Tech-wise, shout out to Michael and Ace for running the booth relatively smoothly. I normally wouldn't say this because I'm always on team techie and everyone's always just doing the best they can; plus it's live theatre, stuff happens, and I get that. Read this with the notion that it's all in good fun. I don't know if they pressed the wrong button or something, but at the performance I went to, the sound before the mermaid scene was late or wouldn't play, and all I could see out of the corner of my eye was both of them freaking out. Regardless, on the tech side, the show went pretty much without a hitch. It couldn't have been easy to set light Good job, Brand. New Techie Ace Hantoush and Junior Veteran Michael Muller (especially since he's not even in this hour).

Speaking of the world behind the scenes, shout out to Brett Jones. When I asked the Yarn-Man about the fight scenes in the show, I was told he was the choreographer. It all looked very solid! I hate to say this, but usually, sword fighting in shows can be a little formulaic across the board, but I was refreshed with originality with this one.

Also, all the on-stage costume changes were smooth and professional. I know Drake had a bit of a problem getting his jacket on with the hook at the beginning of the pirate scene, but props to him for working around it and eventually fixing it. 

Let's address the elephant in the room. The pirate flag falling was frickin hilarious. To be completely serious, I'm not opposed to the flying tables; in fact, I think they are cute and creative, BUT do they have to screech by and cover up half of the dialogue at the beginning of every scene with Peter and Wendy in it? Was it that necessary?

I digress; I think the ending was the part that assured me about this show. Wendy's mother waits every night for her daughter to return, and Peter, upset that Wendy wants to leave, locks the window, and Wendy believes her parents have given up on her. I found all of the ending sequence deeply touching. The foreshadowing throughout the show was very well done. I always knew what to remember without it being on the nose: the poisoning of Tinkerbell was just dramatic enough to keep me invested without being so dramatic that it looped back around to comedy.

There were some points in this show where I completely forgot this was a cast of sophomores. As a former sophomore rep class student myself (JUNIORS RULE!), I know how hard it is to do your first dramatic show without a ton of experience; it can be scary, and it doesn't always go as planned. This cast really impressed me with their character, fluid fight choreography, and performance. Sure, there were bits of flat line delivery or swallowed lines, but hey, nobody's perfect. 

People who stood out to me were Drake Weiner as Captain Hook. I loved the voice, I loved the character, and I liked the interaction with the audience. There was this part were Hooks warns the audience about Peter or something and he pats this little kid on the head in character, very adorable. Drake is a funny guy, but this performance made it easy to see there's much more to him as a performer. Keep up the good work!

Another notable mention from the Improv review is former best performer Caleigh. Gosh, is there anything she can't do? If you asked me to list the notable characters in Peter Pan, I most likely would not say Tiger Lily, but she brought it with this character. Her line delivery was top-notch; her attitude, aggression, and deviousness she added to the character made her so fun to watch. I see a lot of nuance and quality in her acting that is uncommon to see in younger or inexperienced performers; she's definitely one to watch. 

I would be remiss not to acknowledge Brynn Hannah as Tinkerbell. I mean, look at her and tell me she was not made for this role. Her humor was on point, and a total side note, but so was her hair, makeup, and costume. You go, girl! How you delivered "You silly ass!" like 10 times with no character break is beyond me.

Obviously, there's no Peter Wendy without a charismatic Peter. Henry Fritz dazzled me with his performance quality, comedic timing, and storytelling. Henry had such a fun and animated take on Pan, helping draw the audience in the this show's world building a lot more. Peter Pan is such an iconic character that there's no doubt it would be a daunting part to take over, but Fritz brought humor and childlike wonder. 

When thinking of the best performer, one person kept sticking in my mind. I debated picking this person because they are one of the big title characters, but I'm sticking with my gut. 

My best performer is Isabelle Likus. 

It might seem like a cop-out to pick Wendy in Peter Wendy, but Isabelle was spectacular. Isabelle Linkus fully embodied her character as Wendy. I think her line delivery was one of the best by far. In the future I'm excited to see what she does in Rep. I think we've got a rising star on our hands.

Overall, Peter Wendy was an enjoyable experience. Fantastical and fun for the family with deeper undertones for those who dare to look. I feel like it's become a trend of sorts for rep kids to talk about how scared they are of how their shows are going to pan out, and this cast did not deviate from the pattern, but I think their worry went to waste. It was a great show. 

Take a break for the holidays and go out and see some good theatre. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Enjoy your winter solstice, Happy New Year, and all of the things!

Till next time, with a little wonder and a lot of happy thoughts, you too can believe in fairies as much as Hannah Gold. Ka-CHOW!

Written by Danonn Mwangi 

Hadestown: Teen Edition- A Techie's View

November 29, 2024

…Review Hadestown: Teen Edition- It seems like a simple task; however, how would we keep it fair since all three of us were involved in the show? This obstacle has allowed us to bring a unique spin to this musical review. Welcome to (Drumroll please) Hadestown: a Techie’s View.

Hadestown is arguably the best musical we’ve done at Blue Valley High School. It has taken a step in the correct direction away from what David Edwards deemed the “Sam Dollins/Blue Valley Poor Dudes in Caps” trend. Hadestown depicts the tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice taking the audience on a journey from the overworld to Hadestown (the Underworld. Hadestown is an emotionally heavy show that is extremely difficult to do in a way that honors the original intentions and themes of the show while making it unique to the cast and direction. Among other things, the rigor in all aspects of this production made this show phenomenal.

First, I applaud everyone who helped with tech for this show. Being the Props Mistress opened my eyes to how much work and effort goes into making a show of this magnitude happen. The seamless transitions were the result of great communication and attentiveness from everyone. I am so grateful for all the techies who helped with this show in every way. It wouldn’t have been the same without every single person doing their job, and doing it with poise and professionalism. The multi-tier set was detailed, hand-painted, and gorgeous. The set's size and small details helped keep the storytelling very intimate as if it was a familiar place that the audience could find in an everyday setting in their lives.  

 The turntable solidified the circular story pattern of Orpheus’ journey as Hadestown is written as a repetitive cycle the characters continue to go through every time the story is told. The show wouldn’t have been on the same level without it. Multiple people have also complimented the sound crew on their dedication, high regard, and respect for their work. Lighting was *chef's kiss* (HUGE shout out to Tyler Lasche). Big props to stage managers: Michael Muller, Tylar Beck and, Andrew Mazzapica. For being great at what they do, and keeping the machine running smooth, so to speak. The props/tech crew were truly amazing, and since they were mostly underclassmen it was a lot of first-time techies (so extra shout out to them for being awesome!). The orchestra being on stage took the show up a notch, adding depth to the show that could only be portrayed by the musicians’ dedication to accurately portraying a New Orleans jazz club atmosphere that allowed the audience to connect with the performance on a new level. 

Now onto the performances: 

Ensemble can make or break a production and the ensemble definitely made this one. They commanded the stage with energy, emotion, and intention. I love to watch Ensemble when they aren’t the focus, each character has their individual story throughout the show, and seeing those stories come alive on stage gives you an idea of how dedicated the ensemble is to the show. This ensemble was not messing around, and it was amazing to see how invested they were in the story every single time it was performed. Spectacular job!

The Fates, played by Clara Thompson, Taryn Dale, and Chacey Dollins They were all playing instruments. No guys, they were really playing their instruments and acting and singing and dancing, all while wearing heels.  I hope everyone appreciates how talented these ladies are. The Fates had a rich, developed sound in every song. Every time a song of theirs came up I got so excited. The Fates were a highlight in this show and brought an added dimension to the other character's thoughts and insecurities.

Hermes, played by John Samuelson, was the glue to the whole production. The role of Hermes requires the actor to play to a level of emotion and maturity that many high school students struggle to portray accurately; however, Samuelson portrayed the role spectacularly, all while strolling across the stage and engaging with characters and audience members alike.  

Hades was played by Apolo Harkleroad, and I think this is one of the few moments in life when telling someone they made you hate them is truly a compliment. Harkelroad was so good at being “a mean ol’ boss” that it evoked a genuine emotion of hatred, annoyance, and disgust towards Hades from the viewers. That is something that takes a lot of skill and dedication to accomplish. Well done, Apolo.

Eurydice, played by Jenna Hass, was a poor young girl looking for something to eat. Well, she must have found something to eat because she ate. Hass’ singing was impeccable. (little tidbit from editor Danonn over here! Hass is one of the sweetest people in this cast. Her compassion for others is so admirable to me. Sometimes in theatre leads can become a little diva-ish and it brings everyone down, but one of the reasons the cast environment was so good this year was because of Jenna's kindness and optimistic spirit. Thanks, Jenna :) . Anyway, back to the review!)

Orpheus, played by Charlie Lynn, wore his heart on his sleeve. Lynn brought loving, but incredibly naive energy to the character of Orpheus which worked incredibly well. I can’t forget to mention that again we have another very talented actor who was playing an instrument and singing. Like, where are we getting these amazing people from? Oh wait, I know. (mostly) Choir. You should join.

You might notice one glaring omission. This was not because of a less-than-spectacular performance, quite the opposite actually…

The best performer is…. 

Persephone, played by Sarah Tonkin. Tonkin put so much heart into this production and it showed. She brought her all to everything she did. She was always entertaining to watch- even when she wasn’t the focal point. Picking the best performer was pretty challenging as this cast was so well put together and dedicated to their show. Initially, I feared my opinion of the best performer would be biased or inaccurate. However, after conferring with the people, I knew my opinion wasn’t biased. The best performer had to be Sarah Tonkin. Tonkin was captivating to watch and was amazing to work with. Congratulations!

This was such an amazing show to be a part of and review. Thanks for reading! This is Brooke, signing off.

Written by Brooke Lovell

Edited by Amelia Hooper and Danonn Mwangi

FNL: Part One

October 5, 2024

Friday Night Live was a hoot and a half with Seventh Hour Advanced Rep taking their turn in the first semester FNL hot seat. We've got a lot of ground to cover with our ranking of the sketches and various acts, so without further ado let's jump into it!:

Host Monologue

Written by: Mia Mondry and others 

Performed by: Host Mrs.Thompson, and Host Mr.Phrommany

I love a good host Monologue, and I love musicals more. There is nothing like the sound of music to get you acclimated to these old super ||: super super super super:|| super x12 seniors who snuck into the theater department, and they already seem to fit right in. Honestly, Phrommany and Thompson brought so much energy and life into their opening monologue, setting the stage for a great start.

Now starting on our ranked sketch count- up to greatness:

#11 Invisible Krill in the Sky

Written by: Andrew Monahan

Performed by: Andrew Monahan, Joey Diosecky, Kylie Shafer

Invisible Krill in the Sky was a wild fever dream from start to finish, completely by design. I'm a fan of absurdist humor, but I fear the central premise was lost, but I felt like I was tripping on Lysergic Acid while watching. The krill costime bit made me giggle and I liked the jingle at the end for the drink it was fun and funky; just the way I like it. Let it be known, I am not a hater, but I now have a crippling fear of barely caffeinated and brightly colored beverages.

#10 My Neighbor Mr.Pixeling

Written by: Lillie Mikuls

Performed by: Lillie Miklus, Riley Carlson, Rameen Zadi, Jordan Shah, Parker Monson, Mooni Porter

My Neighbor Pixling was fun for the whole family! ...If your family likes deep psychological horror sketches about interloping gummy bears.  I liked the laugh track and the tearing off the arm bits. This sketch was so funny and it came out of nowhere. I would have liked a little sign or something to warn the audience of the day structure of the sketch. Simply because when the lights went down I (among others) thought, "Wow that's it this sketch was so short" just for the sketch to pick up the next day when Mr. Pixling visits. One downfall was that I couldn't hear a word Mr. Pixling said until his untimely death (this was mainly a mic issue/malfunction), but I don't really know why Lillie's character wanted to kill him. Speaking of Lillie, who would have thought Lillie would have such a knack for playing a disturbed little boy? The only reason this sketch is so low on the list is that there were stronger ones on here. 

#9 Deadpool Meets the World

Written by: Andrew Mazzapica and Kylie Shafer

Performed by: Andrew Mazzapica, Kylie Shafer, Hannah Gold, Bailey Hughes 

Deadpool Meets the World was a host of many-a-funny. A family sitcom meets a horde of Deadpool references and deadpan comedy (you see what I did there). I genuinely loved bits and pieces of this sketc- i.e, Andrew Mazzapica as Deadpool, and Hannah Gold drop-kicking a fictional child, however, I was a little lost throughout the whole sketch (and it wasn't just my usual denseness). This one, among many of the sketches in this FNL, struggled with when to bring their scenes to a conclusion with a natural button that would make sense to the audience as the instead of something big and random... or maybe I'm just salty he didn't do the little Deadpool dance. 

#8 How to Gameshow

Written by: Jordan Shah

Performed by: Host Phrommany Jordan Shah, Bailey Hughes, Mooni Porter, Rameen Zadi, Andrew Mazzapica, Lillie Milkus, Parker Monson, and Riley Carlson.

How to Gameshow was a sketch premise I was so excited for when I saw it on the program. I adored Host Phrommany in this one, I could have 2 straight hours of just his brain's conflicts. This sketch was similar to #9 problem-wise though- I'm not a sketch writer, and I don't dare claim to be one when in the presence of the true sketch masters, but it was the sketch's structure that held it back from ultra-epicness.

# 7 Keeping up With the Muppets

Written by: Colton Fieger

Performed by:  Andrew Monahan, Mia Mondry, Kylie Shafer, Tory Rounds, Sarah Tonkin

Keeping up With the Muppets. I have words. Sarah Tokin. Mrs.Piggy To.Die.For. Sarah's acting chops get overlooked far too much and it's like overlooking the sun. How?!?!!!! She embodies Mrs. Piggy's energy, bringing her to the FNL stage in vivid technicolor. I loved all the Muppets references. The only drawback with this sketch, (and this might be completely divisive) is I think the Kardashian references brought down the scene. The premise was supposed to be Keeping Up with the Kardashians except the Muppets are doing all the classic bits but it kind of shackled this really funny scene into jokes that the audience could see coming from a mile away. Overall, a fantastic sketch with an obvious gold standard. If she was here, Mrs. Piggy would be proud of this one.

#6 Candyland’s Reign of Dieterror

Written by: Colton Fieger

Performed by: Andrew Monahan, Mia Mondry, Kylie Shafer, Tory Rounds, Sarah Tokin, Joey Diosecky

Candyland’s Reign of Dieterror was a sweet and classic FNL sketch. I loved the voices brought to the table by Mia Mondry, and the physicality demonstrated by Andrew Monahan. This sketch started strong, but dwindled a bit to simply response and reaction in the middle then ramped up at the end, giving it a more consistent vibe that could have possibly raised it to the top...or maybe they should have just played Candyland. No, that wouldn't work. Playing Candyland for a scene is ridiculous. Who would do that?? #neverforgiveneverforget

Next on the list, the top five always separates the good from the great, so naturally let's put a pin in that to talk about Weeknight Update!

Weeknight Update

Written by: Andrew Monahan, Lillie Mikuls (desk pieces), Mia Mondry (BowBow Siwa), and jokes by Colton Fieger

Performed by: Andrew Monahan, Lillie Mikuls, Mia Mondry, Tyler Thalbum, and Kylie Shafer

Weeknight Update was pretty flawless, with quick-witted jokes and a pretty good pace all around. Honorable mention to Lillie's comment about the school bathrooms (they really are all unusable), the Mr.[Wo]Mann joke, and Bow Bow's depressing soliloquy. The honorable-est mention goes to the loud "ohhhh" from the freshman behind me when they had the cannon realization Tyler and Kylie are the PDA couple.

Back to the Top Five:

#5 Family Therapy

Written by: Colton Fieger

Performed by: Colton Fieger, Sarah Tonkin, Hannah Gold

Family Therapy was incredibly close to being a lot higher on this list. This sketch starts with Colton and Sarah's characters in (you guessed it) family therapy, Hannah crawling around the couch as they describe her behavioral problems was beautiful, and from here on...antics ensue. All I wanted for this sketch was a fake-out of some sort- They describe devil-like behaviors and it would be so funny if we saw Hannah's face and it revealed something else. Like it was Elmo, something ridiculous and absurd just to subvert expectations a bit. That disappointed me a little but I was brought back by how silly goofy this sketch was. 

#4 Nepo Babies

Written by: Colton Fieger 

Performed by: Nepo Babies… no I'm just kidding. 

Performed by: Andrew Monahan, Bailey Hughes, Anna Schumacher, Joey Diosecky, Jordan Shah, Mia Mondry, Tyler Thallbum…gosh there were a lot of you. (Nepo Babies, et al.) That should cover some bases. 

Nepo Babies was great. Dare I say, awe-inspiring.  Mrs.Thompson led the way in this one and strong performances continued one after the other following suit. I (quite unfortunately) did not make a cameo in this sketch so, 0/10 my much cooler older brother will be hearing about this.

#3 A.P(uppet)

Written by: Rylie Carlson

Performed by: Lillie Mikuls, Rameen Zadi, Andrew Mazzapica, Jordan Shah

A.P(uppet) was a dream come true for many. As a young child my very first words were "You will rue the day you scoff at a philosophical FNL sketch idea" and today my enemies are filled with rue. A good reviewer recognizes their biases, so I warn that I may be partial to any stabs at the AP testing system. If it soothes your worries in any way, I have never made a sock puppet. This sketch was a great closer and I left the PAC pondering the meaning of life and dedicated the next two weeks to uncovering the real truth (which may be why this review is so late). To conclude, Sock puppets are definitely sentient.

#2 GOTTOGO

Written by: Lillie Mikuls  

Performed by: Mooni Porter, Lillie Mikuls, Mia Mondry, Host Ms.Thompson 

GOTTOGO had some really funny bits and the short and sweet timing of this one made it all the more fun to watch. Host Mrs.Thompson absolutely went for it for Beetlejuice and swung it out of the park with the voice. I thought the premise of this sketch was very clever. GOTTOGO was a fantastic open for the show, Lillie Mikuls is two-for-two on great openers, so I gotta have the cast sign my pocket-sized script of the original movie. Why do I have that, you ask?...So I can always take my GOTH TO GO.duh.

This leaves only one left…

#1 FNL: The Isekai 

Written by: Tyler Thalbum, Lillie Mikuls 

Performed by: Andrew Mazzapica, Tyler Thallbum, Lillie Muikuls, Host Phrommany, Kyile Shafer, Bailey Huges, Parker Monson

The Isekai sketch was one of my favorite FNL sketches I've ever seen. Anime tropes subverted, a fantastic MC played by Andrew Mazzapica, Tyler getting to fully embrace his nerd side, and a final battle that was a graceful presence to behold. My favorite thing about this sketch is its execution, it comes in and does what it needs to do hilariously, and makes a Doki Doki Literature Club reference in 2024 while doing it. Well done!

Musical Guest- Drumline

Shout out to BV Tiger Band's very own drum line for beating those drums with frightening accuracy, articulation, and professionalism. Good luck at KBA this week, guys!!!

Now, on to the notable performances, the best performer title is awarded to…

Andrew Mazzapica! His self-aware humor and fast switches between being a wacky character and then becoming a foil to other eccentric characters made him really stand out. The mix of something over-the-top to refreshing and dry humor brought his Deadpool character to life, very Ryan Reynolds esc. Best performer could go to no one else after Isekai set him as the foundational pillar of hilarity -I mean, for a second there, I really thought he had broken both his kneecaps simultaneously...I wouldn't put it past this department considering its track record for injuries (thank the heavens litigation is no longer pending). Congrats, Andrew!

 Final Thoughts

Well, that wraps up FNL to remember, from seasoned sketch writers showing off, to Tyler Thalbulm showing all of us what you really get when you merge performance prowess and an anime villain monologue in perfect harmony… Mr. Phrommany.

Happy very very late and belated birthday to Mooni Porter, and a special Arrivederci to all the avid late-night readers (you know who you are ;) !  Till next time, with a little Kawaii and a lot of group bullying you too can harness the power of friendship! KA-CHOW!

Written by Danonn Mwangi

Edited by Amelia Hooper

Time Flies and Other Short Plays

October 1, 2024

Welcome back to DCR! Today’s review is especially exciting because it's written by guest writer Callie Dyches. Callie Dyches is a senior at BV and design editor for the Tiger Print. She loves reading, writing, graphic design, hanging out with her dogs, and picking up random hobbies like knitting and latch hooking. Without further ado here’s the review:

Captive Audience - The TV One

Actors: Apolo Harkleroad (Rob), Tylar Beck (Laura), Elise Johnson (TV Man), Danonn Mwangi (TV Woman)

This was a fantastic opener for the show- it set the comedic tone for itself, and the other plays that followed. The actors “in” the TV (played by Elise Johnson and Danonn Mwangi) did an awesome job keeping the energy high and clashing, while still being complimentary of the “real life” characters (played by Apolo Harkleroad and Tylar Beck). The plot, although short, developed quickly and escalated well throughout the play until it reached the scene's climax. There was a shift between comedy and a light sense of drama that was done very well and blended well in the end. The ending of this play was very memorable, especially with its use of references back to the beginning of the play. Some jokes were repeated, but they were presented with different timing and context, so they stayed hilarious the whole time.

Arabian Nights - The Translator One

Actors: Myka Beck (Interpreter), April Smith (Norman), Emma Sykora (Flora)

Following the end of Captive Audience, the beginning of this play caught me off guard — in the best way possible. The interpreter (played by Myka Beck) brought an energetic life to the play before it had even truly begun, making it exciting to see where it would go. From there, Norman and Flora (played by April Smith and Emma Sykora) gave context to the interaction between the characters. All three actors did a phenomenal job with this one, and I love how much the play escalated as the interpreter’s antics got out of hand. I also enjoyed this play’s references to the beginning, and it was clear that it was a light-hearted and entertaining scene. My one critique is that the ending was a little too rushed, but the actors played it out well, the lights went down, and the music faded in and carried it out to a satisfying conclusion.

Time Flies - The Fly One

Actors: Taylor Fincher (May), Josh Dyches (Horace), Emma Unrein (Frog/David Attenborough)

This play had an atmosphere all its own, including puppets and plenty of bug puns. The mayflies, May and Horace (played by Taylor Fincher and Josh Dyches), were simply created from pom poms on a stick with googly eyes and pipe cleaner wings; and I can’t imagine how it could have been done any better. This play was hilarious, with several unexpected twists to make it even better. When David Attenborough (played by Emma Unrein) entered the stage, I was shocked and burst out laughing. Everything was exaggerated for this play, and it really suited the concept of the mayflies’ very short lives. Like the other plays, this one used a lot of callbacks and hyperbole to add to the humor. It had the audience laughing the whole time (shout out to audience member Colton Fieger- for his second very memorable witch cackle of the year), and with this play’s absurd and unique humor, I was left wanting more after the conclusion of the play.

Sure Thing - The Faux Improv One

Actors: Will Fraser (Bill), Mary Putthoff (Betty)

The format of this play is a faux-improv show making it incredibly engaging, keeping the audience on its toes as they waited to hear what would happen after each reset that gave each character a do-over at the conversation. Although there were only two characters, Bill and Betty (played by Will Fraser and Mary Putthoff), they expressed a wide range of emotions and dynamics, switching between them at an impressive rate. Every joke was new and unexpected, and there was hardly a moment when everyone wasn’t laughing. I especially loved that the story progressed even though it was constantly resetting. There was a plot to the play despite its intentional lack of continuity, and this play was the perfect closer to the night.

Now, on to the notable performances,

The best performer title is awarded to... (Drum roll please): 

Mary! Her scene represented the definition of organized chaos, and she (and her partner) handled it with poise and professionalism. She was handed a collected character that was very serious- which, in my opinion, is where the comedy of her character comes from. Throughout the show, there were major thought-through comedic moments; however, Sure Thing had an accelerated level of fast-paced comedy where composure and professionalism were critical, and she portrayed that incredibly well. 

 Final Thoughts

Overall, every actor did a fantastic job and brought a vibrant life to the show. I’ve been to several theater performances in the past three years, and this one is one of my favorites. The delivery of humor was fairly consistent and repetitive, but it felt fresh for each play and never failed to make the audience laugh. Even, the most dramatic moments contained a sense of absurdity that kept the energy high. A couple of the endings were a little abrupt, but I think it worked out as the plays worked together well. Captive Audience was the perfect kickoff for the show, Arabian Nights and Time Flies maintained the fun, and Sure Thing brought it home with a bang. Everyone in the audience was laughing, including Dr. Golden in the back. This show was, absolutely, incredible, and I can’t wait to see what the theatre program does next!

Written by Callie Dyches

Edited by Amelia Hooper and Brooke Lovell

Barnum and Bailey's Pair of Pants

September 8, 2024

Barnum and Bailey's Pair of Pants was a chucklesome evening of hilarity brought to us from the 6th hour's sophomore-only rep class. I don't know if it's the first review jitters or what but this short-form improv show was almost too funny for a word, so instead we used a lot of them.

Beastie Rap was a fun and energetic start to the show and bringing up Josh made it very enjoyable to watch. Some may say it could have gone on a bit longer, but it's not the quickest round of beastie rap I've ever seen. 

Hard-sell Merchandise is a sustaining classic of the improv world, and this round showed us why. The guessers were getting the suggestions rapidly, even getting the suggestion of Patrick Mahomes in one guess. Someone who brought the “funny” to this game was sophomore improver Henry Fritz. 

Slow Motion Olympics. I think the picnic was a downfall of this scene because it’s not a super engaging activity; however, the improvers put a great spin on it by turning around and beating each other up with the picnic supplies. Commentators Kali and Isabelle did an especially fantastic job. 

Actors Nightmare. What a great game! Brett's physicality in this scene, and every scene, is back-to-back, killingly funny. Drake playing into choosing between Brett and Henry made it a scene to remember. The love triangle plot, as farcical as it was, inadvertently excluded Ace from the scene. I wish Ace was showcased more. I would have loved to hear more lines from the people reading from the scripts (especially because Cuckoo’s Nest was on the table) but it was still a great game.

185 was a pun fest. It's a game I'd never seen before but I loved the heck out of it. Avi, Drake, and Isabelle showed up and showed out. A highlight of this game was Caleigh's, "I cut my finger on my mom's wing," which was so funny the entire game halted so the audience could cackle. It was great, and we got some amazing layered jokes from her.

To be completely honest, knowing Conducted Story was on the set list left me a bit wary. Typically, there’s no movement, no original plot, and repetitive suggestions. This game however ended up being a high point for this team. Zovanie shined in this game; his Taylor Swift impression was super sassy and full of references. He was a rock in this chaotic game. Of course, it's not theatre night at BV without Myah Dobbins' foot fetish, even after graduating, she just couldn't put those dogs away. Ace was the poor victim of Myah’s feet obsession but still did a great job with the suggestion of a podiatrist. What makes this game so different you ask? Alliteration. Drake's alliteration moment was one of the funniest bits of the night, even Yarnell lost it. I must say, "Drake dug deep discerning [he's] delightfully dapper." That game is going on the Comedy Wall of Fame.

Dance Mania was possibly my favorite game of the night. I couldn't say a single person in this scene was weaker than another, fun characters and fantastic performances all around, even the tech crew got a few quips in. I loved the Batman and Joker dynamic. There were so many great things in this game. 

Chain Murder of Endowments, honestly, could have ended the night it was so good. This completely wordless guessing game was a giggle-fest for the audience. Brett's show-stopping physicality made a cameo (Brooke here, this was one of my favorite moments), Caleigh's silly side comments and the audience's growing beef with Drake Weiner made this a game to remember. 

Final Freeze brought our night to a close. From reenacting Mason White’s comment “Why are they being so mean to him?!” to bringing Josh back and chanting his name, this was a great way to bring the night full circle and end the show.

Now, on to the notable performances,

The Fifth-Wallers in the squad held their own, in the ‘funny' of it all, Henry's little one-liners between each game and his infectious energy brought the whole team up a level. I adored Isabelle during Dance Mania and Final Freeze. There is one who really stood out to me, and that is Drake.

Drake played into the alliteration bit and was so in with the audience on the joke.  In general, all night he was on it comedically, the batman character was well done for a very recognizable character and I will be saying "Slay girlfriend" in a Batman voice until the end of eternity. Just like Yarnell said, Drake's strong suit is being very cerebral and I really saw him bring it. 

And the best performer is... 

Josh! Congratulations Josh! Hiding in the audience and pretending to be in the first hour was such an incredible choice! Well don- oh wait, I'm getting a message, “Josh was not a part of the show.” Sorry about that, first official show review without David, y’know?

Okay, jokes aside.

The real best performer is Caleigh!

She was so quick-witted and funny, I had never seen or heard of her until this show, and she just knocked it out of the park. I mean, at the end I was waiting on the edge of my seat for who that was. You could feel the audience warm up to her almost instantly. Her cerebral way of attacking these games and her confidence made her stand out to me. Well played, Caleigh.

All that comedic genius and I'm still surprised no one referenced the Greatest Showman. Anyway, what a great start to the year, I expect great things from this group. The sixth-hour class raised the "Bar" in Barnum. One thing is for certain, this style of show is much better than doing another sophomore FNL. 

With a little rib-tickling comic and a lot of freshmen who walked into the bar-club, you too can get a witch cackle out of Colton Feiger. KA-CHOW!

Written by Dannon Mwangi

Edited by Brooke Lovell

Meet the Team

August 13, 2024

Hi! Welcome to Daily Campfire Reviews. Your reliable source of show reviews. Founded and formerly run by Sweetheart King, David Edwards. This year, David has flown off to College-land and left a select few rambunctious Juinors to run things (Thanks David!). Without further ado, let's meet the team!

Hi, my name is Danonn Mwangi I'm the co-writer and MC for this here blog. I've been into writing since I was little, though spelling was a struggle, so if you read some of the stuff I write brace yourself for a few typos. I love writing interjections, if you haven't noticed, sorry if that's annoying! It's my calling card! I also tend to write with a lot of voice, I've heard it takes a bit to get used to but that's just the way I do things. You'll be seeing a lot of rep reviews from me and just generally I'll be behind the scenes cooking up something fun!

Outside of running this blog, I'm in...

Chorale

Show choir

Rep theatre (First hour, represent!)

Colorguard and Winterguard

STAGEWORX

Involved in the Mainstages in any way I can

Too many clubs to list

And I will be, hopefully, rejoining Fifthwall for another year of improvisational goodness.

However, I hereby declare my undying loyalty to continuing this blog, despite my busyness. Side note, don't ask me how I do it because I don't know either.

The second member of our squad is Brooke Lovell and she offered to introduce herself, and take it away Brooke!

Welcome to my corner of DCR! I love art, sloths, and Taylor Swift. I'm involved in show choir and I love being a techie. I’m so grateful to be a part of Daily Campfire Reviews. I’m excited to see what this year brings, and I hope to bring you along on this theatrical journey.

Thank you, Brooke! Brooke will be your main reporter for all things theatre since I'm tied up in theatrical shenanigans myself so you'll get to know her as the year goes on!

Last but certainly not least is Amelia Hooper! Here's a couple of fun facts about her!

She does a ton of productions outside of school, so she is more than qualified. She's an Irish dancer! She's the sweetest (in my humble opinion). Amelia is gonna bring some special twists to the usual show review catalog with some special editions. Be sure to check in to DCR every once in a while for a fun non-show-related article from her!

All three of us are in Chambers (go us!) and are avid musical participants so a special twist is coming to the annual musical review. I hope even though David is (sadly) no longer running Daily Campfire, you'll still include our show reviews in your cast parties and your high school theatre experience. It's going to be an amazing year, or like I always say, THE BEST YEAR YET!!

Do us a favor and go see some shows!

- Team 2.0 Out 👋