The Internet on Stage

This summer, I had the pleasure of seeing a remarkable dramatization of the Internet, including both its technical and social dimensions, focusing on the difficult problem of cyber-bullying. While I can’t give my professional endorsement to every last detail of the show, I will say that I found it be both very enjoyable and very important. Now, the playwright and director, Gustavus’s Amy Seham, reports that it will be performed here on campus. I encourage everyone from naive kids to jaded old geeks to see it. Here’s Amy’s description, which includes the glowing newspaper review:

This Sunday, September 16, a local performance offers a reprise of Miranda’s Amazing Adventure, which played to rave reviews at the Minnesota Fringe Festival this summer. The show is the result of collaboration between Gustavus faculty playwright, Amy Seham, members of the Saint Peter Area Children’s Theatre (SPact) and students from Gustavus Adolphus College. Inspired by the experiences and insights of students in the workshops (along with additional research), the well-received play premiered in the Kids’ Fringe section of the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Fun for all ages, the play has lots of action for younger kids, an honest look at “cyber-bullying” for tweens, and a lot of fun grown-ups jokes for the rest of us. Please join us

ONE NIGHT ONLY — Sunday, September 16 at 7 pm in Anderson Theatre. (The show is less than one hour long, so not past too many bedtimes, we hope.) Tickets at the door/suggested donation for Gustavus community is $2.00, other adults $4.00 and under 15, free admission.

With input from the St. Peter audience on September 16, the play will be reworked for use in educational settings throughout the U.S.

Here’s our review from the Star Tribune:

An engaging, ball-of-fire girl in fabulous silk pajamas takes us along on her amazing adventure. This new play for youngsters is a cleverly crafted lesson in the delights and dangers of the Internet. Miranda’s older sister is being harassed by cyber-bullies. Miranda resolves to track down the bullies. Like Alice through the looking glass, she finds herself inside the Web, encountering a parade of “characters”. Each helps her to understand what the Web has to offer — good and bad. The delightful Kinsale Morrow, as Miranda, poses the question to her audience, “So, what are you going to do?”
BRIAN LEEHAN
Minneapolis Star Tribune