![\"Highland](\"https:\/\/lamesacourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/burns.jpg\")
<\/a>The play first concerns a group of people in the future who, in the absence of television or streaming video, keep \u201cThe Simpsons\u201d alive by acting out the \u201cCape Fear\u201d episode for their fellow humans.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an ambitious play, one that requires the school\u2019s two theaters: The smaller black box theater for the intimate parts of the show and the big theater for a third act for a retelling of the episode as a huge pageant complete with musical numbers and a Greek chorus featuring performers in masks depicting various \u201cSimpsons\u201d characters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first two acts feel small so that works with the smaller space, but in the third act, the big theater represents a theater built just for the purpose of re-enacting \u2018The Simpsons,\u2019\u201d explained drama teacher Paul Reams, who is directing the production.<\/p>\n
This is not just a re-enactment of \u201cCape Feare,\u201d a classic \u201cSimpsons\u201d episode from 1993, as much as a literal depiction of that old children\u2019s game telephone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first act takes place within months of the apocalypse, so people remember the parts to the plot well, but we see how the details change over the years. For instance, eventually Mr. Burns becomes the villain of the piece where it was Sideshow Bob in the original episode.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reams said the details of the story aren\u2019t as important as the big picture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s this sense that stories matter and cultural touchstones like \u2018The Simpsons\u2019 bind people together,\u201d Reams said. \u201cThe world where this takes place is scary, but people find comfort in what is supposed to be mindless entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reams said the show itself redefines what might be considered \u201cmindless.\u201d For instance, the Britney Spears hit song \u201cToxic,\u201d which might seem like a catchy piece of sugar pop to current audiences, is reinterpreted as a tragic ballad of the dangers of nuclear radiation in the post-apocalyptic world where the play is set.<\/p>\n
The play itself is not mindless. It\u2019s actually an avant-garde work that has polarized audiences since it debuted in 2012. Reams is happy the school is pushing the boundaries of high school drama.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely experimental,\u201d Reams said. \u201cIt\u2019s not \u2018Our Town,\u2019 which I think is the most popular play with high school drama departments. \u2018Mr. Burns\u2019 feels odd and modern.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing a charter school does let us take more risks and I think people are more open to challenging theater.\u201d<\/p>\n