Hillcrest High School presents She Kills Monsters

Share this Story : Hillcrest High School presents She Kills Monsters Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links Cappies Hillcrest High School presents She Kills Monsters Author of the article: Staff Reporter Published Apr 05, 2025 • Last updated 0 minutes ago • 12 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Tiamat played by the cast of She Kills Monsters, and Agnes played by Emily Farley Ratcliffe (M), during Hillcrest High School's Cappies production of She Kills Monsters Photo by Katelyn Faragalli / Student Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected.

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Hillcrest High School presents She Kills Monsters Back to video Article content Hillcrest High School Title: She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition Director: Sabrina Kayed Sarah Linn, Lead Critic Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School The 90’s made a comeback in Hillcrest High School’s production of She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition. Featuring nerds, cheerleaders, Dungeons and Dragons, and touching themes of grief and identity, Hillcrest’s performance was one that blended fantasy and emotion into a heartwarming show.

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Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now Article content After her sister Tilly is killed in a car accident, Agnes — high school student, cheerleader, and an all-around average girl — embarks on a Dungeons and Dragons adventure, hoping to learn more about her late sister.

As she plays the game, making new acquaintances (some friendlier than others), Agnes learns that Tilly had more secrets than she thought. As Agnes battles grief, dragons, and newfound truths, she learns that being a nerd is not always bad, and being average might not be the best way to live life. To show a game as complicated as Dungeons and Dragons in a play is enough of a challenge, but to pair that with sensitive themes of identity, acceptance and grief is another story altogether.

Hillcrest High School’s production was heartwarming, yet comedic, with dynamic acting and detailed behind-the-scenes operations. Agnes played by Emily Farley-Ratcliffe (L), and Miles played by Spencer Pullin (R), during Hillcrest High School’s Cappies production of She Kills Monsters. Photo by Katelyn Faragalli / Student Emily Farley-Ratcliffe gave a skillful leading performance as Agnes.

Agnes’s lines were delivered with enthusiasm and volume, defeating the challenge that comes with acting without microphones. Farley-Ratcliffe’s acting went beyond the character’s lines and into expressive body language. In the beginning, stiff posture suggested discomfort and awkwardness, harmonious with Agnes’s reluctance to bond with the nerds accompanying her on the campaign.

However, as the show went on, Farley-Ratcliffe’s posture opened, and gestures became more animated as Agnes settled into the group. Emily Farley-Ratcliffe also adeptly conveyed Agnes’s cheerleading skills though perfectly-timed cartwheels, leaps and ducks that lended a dynamic air to the play’s many fight scenes. Advertisement 3 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content The props team, consisting of Eugene Chung, Emily Farley-Ratcliffe, Willow Herbert and Wania Awan, built detailed accessories for the show. The quartet constructed a gelatinous cube that was as tall and wide as a person. The fabric used to build it moved like slime would, creating the illusion that the DnD creature had come to life.

Another eye-catching prop was the staff of the elven character, Kalliope Darkwalker. It glittered in the stage lights, with a detailed design and a glowing tip that lended an element of magic to the show. Shivani Karunaharan, Martial Brunton-Dunbar and Olivia Dalgleish ran a stage crew that was effective not only during smooth scene transitions, but also in creating a fun and game-like atmosphere.

The group carried large props on and off stage with apparent ease. The aforementioned gelatinous cube was one such prop, requiring crewmembers to operate it from the inside. The crew was unobtrusive and efficient, not taking away from the action on stage.

In other instances, the crew members acted as comedic additions to the show, adding to the illusion of a life-sized DnD game. When a character rolled for a move, crew members ran in front of the stage with a giant die. At one point, a healing spell was cast, and a crew member appeared on stage with a bubble wand and colourful lights, grinning all the while.

The crew was effective as a source for comedy, adding to the show with their uniqueness. Advertisement 4 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content This production was at once touching, magical and comedic.

Hillcrest High School cast the die with this show, and rolled a Nat 20 — in DnD terms, a success. Abby Duplessis, Lead Critic St. Mother Teresa High School In a world where grief is an uphill battle and memories are summoned with the roll of a die, sometimes being a hero simply means having the courage to be yourself.

The cast and crew of Hillcrest High School were dedicated to portraying this message in their production of She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition. Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters follows Agnes, a stereotypical cheerleader, and Tilly, her younger, geeky sister. Following Tilly’s untimely death in a car accident, Agnes develops an interest in her sister’s Dungeons and Dragons journal and discovers how little she actually knows about her sister.

She makes surprising friends along the way and learns to reflect on her own life decisions. The cast’s energy and strong camaraderie were communicated through intentional movements and a range of emotion-filled tones. This dynamic performance meant that there was never a dull moment onstage.

Smooth transitions between scenes were effectively executed and managed by Shivani Karunaharan, Martial Brunton-Dunbar and Olivia Dalgleish. Advertisement 5 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content As Agnes becomes more open minded, Emily Farley-Ratcliffe’s sassy tone and eye rolls gave way to thoughtful embraces and open body language.

Through dramatic drops to the ground and exaggerated limping, Farley-Ratcliffe heavily utilized physicality during the fight scenes. Alen Prakash demonstrated his commitment to the role of DM Biggs by speaking passionately and shaking his head in disbelief. The geeky character was well demonstrated as Prakash’s eyes and body conveyed total engagement in the Dungeons and Dragons journal.

When working together, Farley-Radcliffe and Prakash’s natural connection was shown with an eye connection that displayed emotions ranging from care to annoyance. Lilith played by Brianna Brooks (L), Tilly played by Kiy Killaby (M), and Kaliope played by Eliza Robertson (R), during Hillcrest High School’s Cappies production of She Kills Monsters. Photo by Katelyn Faragalli / Student Brianna Brooks spoke clearly and with the purpose of bringing the ferocious Lilith to life.

This was accompanied by demonic laughter, leaning on an axe, and aggressive hand gestures. Gabriel Maloney’s genuine dedication to the comedic role of Steve was always evident, whether that be through pulling on suspenders or shimmying while exiting the stage. Leah Dekker and Melody Babin depicted the evil succubus cheerleaders with synchronized movements and condescending tones.

Advertisement 6 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The hair and makeup, done by Angelina Lay, Teagan McGuire and Eugene Chung, reflected the mythical world with colourful clips in a fairy’s hair and the real world of the 1990s with crimped and purple streaked hair. Eugene Chung, Emily Farley-Ratcliffe, Willow Herbert, and Wania Awan constructed various props, including a magic missile accompanied by confetti and a dragon head with meticulous attention to detail in the eyes and coloration.

There was also a set of realistic swords which were used in various fight scenes. Hillcrest High School’s passionate cast and crew put on a production of She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition that was colourful and whimsical, but also heartfelt and realistic. It proved that sometimes the ordinary is really the extraordinary.

Bridget O’Neill, Critic Holy Trinity Catholic High School What do you get when you mix grief, geek culture, and goblin slaying? In Hillcrest High School’s high-energy production of She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition, one girl’s dive into the Dungeons & Dragons game becomes an unforgettable quest, not just for adventure, but for understanding, courage, and connection. Advertisement 7 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Welcome to the fantasy world of New Landia, where Agnes, an average high schooler, stumbles upon a D&D module left behind by her late sister, Tilly.

As Agnes dives into the adventure, she meets a fearless group of warriors, battles daunting monsters, and discovers the complexities of her sister’s secret world. With action-packed performances, witty humour, and raw emotion, She Kills Monsters is a thrilling and heartfelt story of love, loss, and the power of embracing the extraordinary, even for someone as average as Agnes. Brought to life by a dynamic cast and crew, She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition radiated energy and emotion.

The actors brought humour and heart to every scene, seamlessly navigating the show’s shifting mood. Costumes, hair, and makeup worked harmoniously to reflect the story’s world, while well-designed props added depth to each character. Smooth stage management kept the production flowing effortlessly, ensuring every moment felt purposeful.

The collaboration of these elements elevated the show into a compelling and immersive experience. Advertisement 8 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Orcus played by Henry Richardson-Andrews (L), Evil Tina played by Melody Babin (2ndFL), Agnes played by Emily Farley-Ratcliffe (M), Kaliope played by Eliza Robertson (2ndFR), and Evil Gabbi played by Leah Dekker (R), during Hillcrest High School’s Cappies production of She Kills Monsters.

Photo by Katelyn Faragalli / Student Emily Farley-Ratcliffe brought Agnes to life with a perfect blend of sass and relatability, capturing the character’s eye-rolling attitude early on. The transition from disinterest to genuine investment in the game was skillfully portrayed, balancing humour with character development. Expressive gestures and sharp delivery highlighted Agnes’s boldness, while emotional range shone through in moments like the dance battle, where a split added flair to the performance.

Alen Prakash as Chuck delivered lines with seamless precision, embodying a nerdy, endearing character. Brianna Brooks’s portrayal of Lilith was reactive and full of physicality, with strong voice projection that kept the character grounded and consistent. Gabriel Maloney as Steve brought an entertaining and expressive presence, ensuring the audience always anticipated something impactful with each stage appearance.

Kiy Killaby as Tilly captured the character’s emotional depth, showcasing impressive range throughout. Leah Dekker as Farrah subverted expectations with a deep voice and commanding presence, adding depth to the character. The Succubus Cheerleaders, portrayed by Leah Dekker and Melody Babin, were in perfect sync, creating an intimidating and cohesive force on stage.

Advertisement 9 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The costumes, designed by Anna Contini, were perfectly aligned with each character’s personality, blending ’90s flair with unique details for the party members. Agnes’s cheer outfit and the flannels captured the era’s style, while Lilith’s dark tones contrasted sharply, reflecting an intimidating nature.

Hair and makeup, crafted by Angelina Lay, Teagan McGuire, and Eugene Chung, brought these designs to life, with Agnes’s crimped hair and Lilith’s bold makeup reflecting individual styles. Props, designed by Eugene Chung, Emily Farley-Ratcliffe, Wania Awan, and Willow Herbert, were intricately tied to the characters, including a glowing staff, dragon masks, and metal swords that added a satisfying clang. Special effects by Gabriel Maloney and Samuel Cormier used hand-drawn images to separate the D&D world from reality.

Creative moments, like Leah Dekker playing the flute while walking in character, showcased impressive attention to detail. Stage management by Shivani Karunaharan, Martial Brunton-Dunbar and Olivia Dalgleish ensured flawless execution, with highlights like an overly large die rolling across the stage. Advertisement 10 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content With every sword clash and spell cast, She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition delivered a powerful blend of humour, heart, and heroism. Hillcrest High School’s production brought the adventure to life with striking emotion and dynamic storytelling, proving that some journeys don’t just change the story, they change the player. Niamh MacDonald, Critic Almonte and District High School The lines between reality and imagination blurred in She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition as performed by Hillcrest High School, an emotional story about sisterly love and finding the courage to be yourself.

In She Kills Monsters, Agnes Evans deals with the loss of her younger sister Tilly in a car accident. Agnes was never close with her sister while she was alive. Agnes was popular, and Tilly was more of a geeky girl, but when Agnes finds a plan for a Dungeons and Dragons campaign made by Tilly before she died, she decides to give it a chance in hopes of learning more about her late sister.

As Agnes works through the game with help from DM Biggs, she discovers sides to Tilly she never knew existed. The game shows fictionalized versions of Tilly’s friends, experiences at school, and the journey of discovering her sexuality. Agnes comes to realize that this game served as a journal of sorts for her sister.

After she reaches the end of the game and meets Tilly’s old friends, she decides her sister’s world wasn’t so bad after all. Advertisement 11 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition takes place partially in the real world and partially in the world of the game, and the Hillcrest cast and crew did a great job of making that distinction clear to the audience.

Everything from lighting to costumes matched the vibe of the world they belonged to beautifully, but the highlights were the many student-made drawings projected onto the background that immersed the audience in the world of the game. Steve played by Gabriel Maloney (L), and Farrah the Faerie played by Leah Dekker (R), during Hillcrest High School’s Cappies production of She Kills Monsters. Photo by Katelyn Faragalli / Student Emily Farley-Ratcliffe gave an emotional performance as Agnes Evans.

Through Farley-Ratcliffe, it was clear how Agnes slowly grew and changed throughout the story, the character’s development on full display. Farley-Ratcliffe effectively brought tones of both humour and solemnity to Agnes’s character and the show as a whole. Brianna Brooks’s performance as Lilith was a highlight of the production.

Brooks brought Lilith’s over-the-top personality to life with grace, humour, and nuance. Kiy Killaby’s performance of Tilly was powerfully emotional. Gabriel Maloney’s performance of Steve and Henry Richardson-Andrews’s performance as Orcus gave us two strong, consistent, and absolutely hilarious characters.

The grace with which Eliza Robertson performed as Kalliope brought the character to life. Advertisement 12 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content She Kills Monsters is a story about people living between two worlds, and the costumes designed by Anna Contini highlighted this excellently.

Each character’s fantastical and human counterparts wore costumes that highlighted the world they were in, but had consistent themes which alluded to the other world, making it easier to understand the characters. She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition at Hillcrest High School was a magical performance of an equally magical story, both sombre and humorous in turns. The talents of each member of the cast and crew were on full display throughout this captivating show.

Ella Wattie, Critic Almonte and District High School What happens when the intense life of a troubled teenaged student meets the creativity of a detailed Dungeons and Dragons campaign? Hillcrest High School’s production of Qui Nguyen’s She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition brought to light the reality that sometimes adolescent lives are not as simple as they seem. Advertisement 13 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content After her sister is killed in a devastating car crash, Agnes Evans sets out on an imaginative adventure through her beloved sister Tilly’s Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

With her immature but supportive dungeon master, DM Biggs, guiding her, Agnes begins to understand the true monsters that Tilly had faced on a normal basis and discovers elements of her life that she hadn’t considered before. Steve played by Gabriel Maloney during Hillcrest High School’s Cappies production of She Kills Monsters. Photo by Katelyn Faragalli / Student This production showcased a tremendous amount of heart and determination from the crew that worked behind the scenes, as well as from the actors that helped bring this show to life.

Emily Farley-Ratcliffe portrayed the socially conforming Agnes Evans with a clear, strong voice and a variety of facial expressions that ranged from confusion to anger to pure happiness. As the character developed throughout the performance, Farley-Ratcliffe was able to capture the vulnerability and strength of a sister struggling with loss and finding herself through the fantastical world that her sibling left behind. Advertisement 14 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content Kiy Killaby, in the role of Tilly, exhibited the character’s quirky energy with expressive hand gestures and timid line delivery, especially around difficult topics like bullies and coming out of the closet. Gabriel Maloney gave a hilarious performance as Steve, providing comic relief to a show that tackles heavy topics. Brianna Brooks as Lilith perfectly encapsulated the physicality of the role, with powerful stances and confident gestures that reflected the character’s warrior spirit.

Among the most remarkable parts of this show were the costumes, designed by Anna Contini, and props, crafted by Eugene Chung, Emily Farley-Ratcliffe, Wania Awan, and Willow Herbert, that perfectly complemented the actors onstage. Each Dungeons and Dragons character was equipped with a distinct costume and a handheld prop, which was used to the actor’s advantage throughout the performance. Not only were these props valuable in the epic fight sequences, but they were also incorporated into the mannerisms of each character.

Whether leaning on them for support or playfully threatening one another, these props were successfully used to the fullest extent of their potential. Advertisement 15 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Hillcrest High School’s production of She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition was a hilarious and unique rendition of the beloved show that proved once and for all that sometimes, the story is deeper than what meets the eye.

About the reviews: The Hillcrest High School production was reviewed by 38 critics representing 9 schools. The critic discussions were mentored by teacher Ben Postin of St. Francis Xavier High School and student reviews were edited and selected for publication by teacher Adam Smith of West Carleton High School, who could see only the reviews, not the names or schools of the reviewers.

Next review: St. Francis Xavier High School’s production of Annie. About the Cappies: The Citizen and 23 high schools are participating in the Cappies, a Washington, D.

C.based program that uses high school critics to review high school theatre. The program is a unique partnership between the Ottawa Citizen, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board.

Two schools from other boards in the region and two private schools have also joined. The Cappies season culminates with an awards Gala in June graciously hosted by the National Arts Centre. Follow Canada’s Capital Cappies on Instagram @OttawaCappies.

Want to stay in the know about what’s happening in Ottawa? Sign up for the Ottawa Citizen’s arts and life newsletter — Ottawa, Out of Office — our weekly guide to eating, listening, reading, watching, playing, hanging, learning and living well in the capital. Recommended from Editorial Cappies play synopses for the 2024-25 season Ottawa Cappies celebrate 20 years of theatre magic and community spirit Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : Hillcrest High School presents She Kills Monsters Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion.

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