Soy un perdedor
I’m a loser baby, so why don’t you kill me?
—— Loser by Beck
As Loser started playing, “SHE KILLS MONSTERS” emerged on the screen. The show began again — this time at the Wilbury Theatre Group, a professional arts center in Providence. Following a successful run at Tabor last fall, the drama cast and crew reunited on March 10 and 11 to remount Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters, retelling the story of a Dungeon and Dragons adventure that celebrates the beauty of “being different.” Afterwards, the group went on a three-day theatre-focused trip to London. As the stage manager, I got the chance to work with the amazing team and document the entire process.
Remounting a show in a professional setting was a first for Tabor’s theater program and was indeed challenging. Time constraints and space changes required all of us to be more proactive and adaptable. The actors quickly refreshed their lines and blocking, re-immersing themselves into their characters. As the Wilbury Theatre has a smaller-size stage with a different layout, all departments had to readjust to accommodate new entrances and blockings.
“It was definitely hard since I am used to performing in a space around me. I had to open up more to the audience,” said Lucy Brophy (she/her) ‘28. She also expressed the challenge of re-developing her character to top her performance in the fall.
“The backstage area was very different from what we originally anticipated,” Alex Abu-Raya (she/her) ‘26, the head of costumes and props, shared. The crew had to allocate all the props in a very cramped space.
Through extensive rehearsing throughout the day, we familiarized ourselves with the new space. In our downtime, we bonded over exploring brunch places nearby and city walking in Providence.
And on with the show. On the evening of the 11th and 12th, the house was filled with amazing energy. However, this time when the lights fell, we had to bid a final goodbye to the show we poured our hearts into. It was indeed a bittersweet moment.
“Through this show, I got to explore a lot of new lighting and spend quality time with the group,” expressed senior Jennifer Guo (she/her). “The quirkiness and boldness of the show and our shared memories tied to it makes it so hard to let go.”
We had some good times, didn’t we?
We wore our hearts out on our sleeve
Goodbyes are bittersweet
But it’s not the end
I will see your face again…
Walking in the wind
—— Walking in the Wind by One Direction
London, London, London; a bustling metropolis of diverse cultures, the home of William Shakespeare, and a city perfect for artistic and theatrical adventures.
The Old Globe Theatre mimics the one where Shakespeare used to work. The Globe installs modern lighting on its wood structure, displaying a balance of history and modernity. We went on an immersive tour into the circular theatre, learning about the history of the Globe, Shakespeare’s life, and the historical hierarchy of the audience — from the groundlings who paid one penny to stand near the stage to the aristocrats that sat high up. We conversed with the past, learning the techniques of acting, costuming, sound design, and props-making from “back in the old days.”
Our touring of London continued with phenomenal shows. We saw The Mousetrap, a comedy adapted from Agatha Christine’s book full of humor and suspense. We were moved by I’m Still Here, an Oscar-nominated movie about Brazil under military dictatorship, and the all-time classic Les Miserables. Les Mis narrates the journey of ex-prisoner Jean Valjean’s story seeking redemption, through which he learns about himself and fights against injustice. The automation in the stage set and its intricate design truly immersed us in the story. With the actors’ phenomenal energy and inspiring singing voices, Les Mis left all of us in awe.
We meandered the art museums, appreciating masterpieces at the National Gallery and the Tate museums. The beauty of art, from impressionist paintings to pop art and installation works, made many of us reluctant to leave.
Well, I’m walkin’ down the line
I’m walkin’ down the line
And I’m walkin’ down the line
My feet’ll be a-flyin’ —— Walking Down the Line by Bob Dylan
We used our feet to measure the culture of the city, touring iconic sites like Buckingham Palace and Big Ben. We bonded through walking and talking, and at times, through figuring out directions together when we got lost. A shared pleasure lingered in the air from the Foyles bookstore to St. James Park.
A metropolis, London harbors cuisines from all around the world. We tried Korean food, filling our stomachs with spicy barbecue and hot-steamed Bibimbap. We explored the Borough Market, one of the famous food places in London filled with fresh delicacies from all around the world. We were lost in the dazzling array of oysters, sea food fried rice, lobster sandwiches, baked goods, fresh juice, and more.
While the three-day trip was short, it showed us London’s theatrical richness and diverse culture. We bonded over this shared experience, wishing it would last longer. “I found myself becoming closer with a lot more cast and crew members,” Gray Liu (she/they) ‘27 shared. “It was an amazing experience to be with friends and explore new places.”
