Belmont student scripts debut on stage

The Belmont Young Playwrights festival is back.

For the third year writing and drama students are teaming up to captivate audiences with a series of short plays.

Grade 12 student Ryan White wrote and directs The Mix-Up.

The story follows a character named James who gets himself into a bit of a pickle when he brags about having a girlfriend that doesn’t exist.

He ends up cross-dressing acting as the fictional girl names Angel.

While dressed as Angel he meets a girl he falls for as has to balance his role as both James and Angel at a party.

“I was writing it by myself and working on it until 2 a.m. Jokes that are funny at 2 a.m. are not always funny on stage,” said White, explaining he’s learned a lot about comedy writing through the process.

Grade 12 student Lauren Cassidy is also wearing both writer and director hats in Media Mayhem.

She wrote a complicated tale of how teens live with pressure from social media. The main character is referred to as The User with other characters portraying websites.

“Facebook assaults The User with useless information and Google keeps pressuring her to find out more,” Cassidy said.

Each play runs about 20 minutes. The festival runs on Nov. 28 and 29 at Belmont secondary, 3067 Jacklin Rd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and plays start at 7. Admission is by donation.

More info:

http://www.westhillsbc.com/