Wellesley Middle Schoolers Tackle Self-Image in ‘Perfect’

Self esteem, perfectionism, and the pressure to "fit in" are the themes of a dark and starkly serious play that will debut at Wellesley Middle School next week.

"Perfect," by Alan Haehnel, tells the story of Bethany, an average teenage girl who narrates much of the play through her mirror, telling the story of her battle to be perfect from the age when she first starts school. Trouble fitting in among peers leads to efforts at conformity, and eventually to trouble with her parents; all the while, her inner monologue and emotions are laid bare on stage.

A cast of nearly two dozen middle school students will showcase the play at the 2010 Massachusetts Middle School Drama Festival, hosted at Miscoe High School in Mendon on Saturday, May 1. Wellesley Middle School performs at 11 a.m. that day, and $10 tickets are available only at the door.

Perfect will also be performed for Wellesley Middle School audiences on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. The performance is free and open to the public.

WMS Drama teacher Leah Fine said the genesis for choosing this play came down to its themes: self image, seeking approval, and fitting in.

"I had to find a play that was 40 minutes long and middle school-aged appropriate, but I also wanted to find something of substance," said Fine. "This play is about self-image, especially female, and I find this is a huge issue that many middle schoolers deal with on a daily basis."

Fine asked students to recite a 30 second, memorized monologue, after which some of the students stayed to read scenes from the play itself.  From there, she placed students into roles.  

Rehearsals started over a month ago, with just two or three rehearsals every week – making the production timeline leading up to this show fast and furious.

"This has really been a quick but very rewarding process. Because we just recently finished the eighth-grade musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, we did not have very much time to put this show together," said Fine. "However, the actors in this play have been incredibly professional and hard-working, making it easier for themselves and for me."

And the show has been challenging in others ways, too: some actors have more lines to memorize than they ordinarily would for a typical middle school show, and all students – whether in a leading role or as a supporting ensemble member – have struggled with the subject matter.

"This is a difficult topic for some students, and sometimes hard to deal with," said Fine. "There is some dark comedy, but overall it is a serious drama. It has been difficult at times, but they really seem to understand the depth of this play, and its meaning."

Leading roles include Bethany, played by Anna Bortnick; her mother, played by Natalie Totonchy; her father, played by Marlin Rooks; and Woman/Jenny, played by Nobska Goodhue.

The show comes on the heels of three other drama productions: "School House Rock Live," for grades six and seven, "Cases of Mistaken Identity," for grades seven and eight, and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," for eighth-graders. Altogether, the department does two plays and two musicals yearly – but "Perfect" was a departure from that routine.

"'Perfect' was the only show that deals with serious subject matter and it is not a comedy," said Fine. "I think that it's nice to allow the students to deal with something real after doing so much comedy throughout the school year so far."

With most of the show's audiences likely to be fellow middle school students, Fine is hoping her students will learn from the interaction and develop a greater sense of the show's meaning.

"I hope that the students have a good time, first and foremost. But I also want for them to learn, perhaps something about themselves and about theater and the process," said Fine. "I do hope that audiences understand how and why we chose this play, with its difficult subject matter and sometimes upsetting moments. A lot of the audience will be students around the same age of the actors – and they, too, will hopefully take something more out of seeing this play."

For more information, visit the Wellesley Middle School Drama wiki space website at

wellesleymiddleschooldrama.wikispaces.com.

The Full Cast of "Perfect"

Bethany- Anna Bortnick
Mom- Natalie Totonchy
Dad- Marlin Rooks
Woman/Jenny- Nobska Goodhue
Melinda/Commercials- Betsy Waisel
Mrs. Butterman- Emily Griffin
Lisa/Sarah - Katie Horblit
Danny- Nick Shepard
Mikey/Commercials- Connor Stewart
Teammate/Celia- Sarah Johnson
Terry/Commercials- Nicki Mallette
Doobad/Stuart- Carl Richardson
Jack/Umpire- Julian Burns
Counselor- Elisa Rocha
Mega-Girl/Marsha- Serena Benages
Luanne/Commercials- Hannah Gilman
Teacher/Librarian- Zoe Lloyd
Reverand/TV Cop- Nolan Thomas
Claire/Michelle- Annie McCauley
Lilly/Laura- Caroline Kelliner
Bob/Commercials- Billy Kindle
Barb/Morgan- Margaux Higgins