Cappies Review: 'The Monster Under The Bed' At West Springfield

By Julia Tucker of Westfield High School

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.

Image via Alanna Garagliano of West Springfield High School, from left to right: Connor Brunson, Roberto Delgado, Sonya Leon