Cappies Review: Fairfax High's Endlessly Entertaining Comedy

By Ivy Ridenhour
Freedom High School

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — The phrase "months on end" sounds tedious and never ending. So, it was a pleasant surprise when Fairfax High School's "Months on End" ended up being the complete opposite: a series of comedic vignettes that ended too soon. "Months on End" is a full-length play written by Craig Pospisil. It shows various characters coming together to connect or clash. It has 12 scenes, one for each month of the year. Fairfax High School's production was a selection of four of those scenes. It was done in a mix of virtual and in-person with some scenes filmed on a stage and some done in a virtual call.

Just like the year, the play started with January. More specifically, it started with a party with plenty of spirits, even if the spirit itself was a bit lacking. This energy was especially embodied by Kate Parr as Elaine. A dry tone in her voice, a bottle of wine in her hand, and a "done with it all" attitude made her a very clear character.

Playing opposite her was Trevor Sloan as soon-to-be divorcee Walter. Sloan's consistent physicality made him seem like a real person with genuine reactions. When each character noted that their significant other was currently kissing someone else, it was sobering for the audience and the characters. Suddenly, Parr and Sloan's charming dynamic was masterfully shifted into one of cautious care and just enough malice to plan the perfect revenge.

The next scene was March, which showed the messy end of a relationship. Mikhail Goldenberg played Nick, and Paige was played by Anne Marie Seybold. As actors they were perfectly in harmony, their argument flowing naturally. As characters they clashed, both stubborn in different ways and shifting throughout the scene, but never in a way that let them see eye to eye. It was so honestly portrayed that, as their flawed relationship fell apart, it felt like an inevitable conclusion.

The third scene in the show was June, and took place the morning of a wedding. The bride, Phoebe, was played by Victoria Collins-Jost. Her honest performance of the nervous bride guaranteed that she wasn't the only one engaged. Elana Kaplan played Gwen, the typical mother of the bride: insensitive, and controlling. Hank Hawkins played Chris, father of the bride, and a complete contrast from Gwen. His jokes and analogies were light, but his advice was given with heartfelt care.

The final scene, October, centered around Ben, a Beatles-obsessed fool, played by William Choi with dedication and range. One moment he inspired sympathy and the next he only inspired lectures. Luckily for the audience, Sloan returned as Walter to talk some sense into Ben. The audience got to see growth as Walter shifted from commiserating with his scene partner to sharing with him the lessons he'd learned in the past year.

"Months on End" also had terrific costumes done by Emily Bird and Ashley Bui. Elaine's formal black dress and Walter's suit clearly defined the party setting before a single word was said. Similarly, the more casual outfits of Paige and Nick showed a clear shift from party to vacation. In every scene the costumes helped to enrich the settings and characters. Another terrific aspect of the show was the well-timed dialogue and pacing that can be attributed not only to the actors, but director Kate Parr as well.

All in all, Fairfax High School's "Months on End" covers almost a whole year in its story, but it was so fun and well done that it really only felt like a moment.