The Cappies | Philadelphia Inquirer

The Greater Philadelphia chapter of the Cappies, the Critics and Awards Program, enables high school students to review shows at other schools, under the guidance of faculty mentors. Participating schools are Abington Friends, Academy of the New Church, Agnes Irwin, Barrack Hebrew Academy, Bordentown Regional, Cheltenham, Chestnut Hill Academy, Conestoga, Creative and Performing Arts, Delaware County Christian, Eastern Regional, Episcopal Academy, Garnet Valley, Germantown Academy, Harriton, Haverford High, Haverford School, Holy Cross, Interboro, Lindenwold, Merion Mercy, Phoenixville Area, Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Ridley, Souderton Area, Springfield, Springfield Township, Springside, Sun Valley, Unionville, Upper Darby, Upper Dublin, Upper Merion, Villa Maria Academy and West Chester East. These reviews were written by students in the Philadelphia area.

Phoenixville: ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’

By Emily Coons, UNIONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Posted 11/23/2009

"Vengeance is a cruel mistress" echoed throughout the auditorium after being spoken by the great Edmond Dantes, during the Phoenixville Area High School's production of The Count of Monte Cristo.

‘The Count of Monte Cristo’: Another View

By Allison Jenkins, INTERBORO HIGH SCHOOL

Posted 11/23/2009

A single phrase etched on a stone-gray prison wall engulfed a young prisoner's mind: "God preserve my memory."

Lindenwold: ‘Play On’ - 11/23/2009: By Tim Wright, UPPER DARBY HIGH SCHOOL

Remember that time when your family took a long road trip and absolutely nothing went as planned? When translated to the world of theater, Lindenwold High School's production of Play On showcases every director's worst nightmare.
‘Play On’: Another View - 11/23/2009: By Chelsea Ryan, UPPER DARBY HIGH SCHOOL

Tech week! All actors and crew members of a play can tell you that the week leading up to opening night results in great pressure to incorporate technical aspects and costumes into the show. But what if the playwright suddenly showed up with a rewrite? Fortunately, this was not true for Lindenwold High School, although they did accurately portray this awful experience of a disaster prone community theater group in the farcical play, Play On.
Springfield (Delco): ‘The Laramie Project’ - 11/23/2009: By Emily Winters, UPPER DUBLIN HIGH SCHOOL

Although the citizens of Laramie, Wyo., claim that "Hate is not a Laramie Value," the brutal beating motivated by homophobia of Matthew Shepard exposed animosity in this sleepy little college town for all the world to see. Issues of homosexuality, discrimination, the death penalty, and hate crime were powerfully explored by Springfield High School (Delco) in an emotional production of The Laramie Project.
‘The Laramie Project’: Another View - 11/23/2009: By Elena Hyder, CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS

"And in the distance, I could see the sparkling lights of Laramie City."
Conestoga: ‘Radium Girls’ - 11/23/2009: By Allison Sadlier, VILLA MARIA ACADEMY

A harmless substance turns out to be deadly in D.W. Gregory's Radium Girls. The cast of Conestoga High performed the drama on the weekend of November 21st to a captivated audience.
‘Radium Girls’: Another View - 11/23/2009: By Lauren Clairmont, UPPER MERION HIGH SCHOOL

Glow, Conestoga, Glow!
Interboro: ‘Rumors’ - 11/23/2009: By Casey Hall, VILLA MARIA ACADEMY

Two gun shots, a bullet through an earlobe and four frantic couples makes for one chaotic 10th anniversary party! Interboro High School's production of Neil Simon's Rumors was a fast paced performance full of comical banter that made for a truly entertaining event.
‘Rumors’: Another View - 11/23/2009: By Liz Isaac-Herzog, PLYMOUTH-WHITEMARSH HIGH SCHOOL

Gunshots were fired, excuses were made, and – most importantly – rumors were told during Interboro High School's recent performance of Rumors. Written by Neil Simon, this show brings sit-com humor to the stage.
West Chester East: ‘The Laramie Project’ - 11/16/2009: By Lisa Williams, AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL

Robbed, beaten, and left to die tied to a Wyoming fence, Matthew Shepard left the world with memories of pain, violence, and hate. West Chester East High School tackled the difficult subject matter of The Laramie Project, exploring the emotions left with the townsfolk after such a vicious attack.
‘The Laramie Project’: Another View - 11/16/2009: By Siobhan McKenna, VILLA MARIA ACADEMY

On Oct. 7, 1998, Matthew Shepherd was brutally beaten and left to die tied to a fence in Laramie, Wyo. Matthew was a homosexual and the victim of a hate crime. West Chester East High School explored the issues regarding homosexuality and the change that comes from tragedy in its production of The Laramie Project.