Kaylin Poggi, left, Delaney Williams and Julianna Replogle rehearse their lines for “Caught in the Web,” which Brookfield Drama Club will produce March 21 and 22.
Kaylin Poggi said she doesn’t see herself in her character, Sarah, who gets sucked into the internet in “Caught in the Web” by Brian Taylor, the play Brookfield Drama Club will stage March 21 and 22.
Genevieve Spies said she thinks Kaylin is kidding herself.
“I seen you scrolling,” Genevieve said.
No matter where Kaylin falls, “People are gonna enjoy being like, ‘Oh yeah, that would so happen,’” Kaylin said.
“Caught in the Web,” the 10th production since Megan Rodgers resurrected Brookfield Local School District’s theater program, is about “two high school students who use their phones a lot and get sucked into the internet,” Rodgers said. “It’s their adventures trying to figure out how to get out and all the crazy events, people they meet along the way.”
They meet internet memes and institutions such as the dancing baby, the dancing hamster, “the Google,” Twitter, Facebook and “Sirilexa.”
“It also does touch on how adults can be obsessed with their devices and get sucked in as well,” Rodgers said. “The parents go on a little bit of an adventure on their own, too.”
The parents have to navigate the Nigerian prince, scammers, trolls and dating sites.
“There’s lots of cat videos that make appearances,” Rodgers said.
Megan Rodgers
Sophomore Jayden Duncan said he thinks “Caught in the Web” is funny and believes others will also will find it amusing.
Kaylin, a sophomore, has been in school plays since third grade.
“It’s something I really like to do,” Kaylin said. “I enjoy doing drama. It gives me something to do after school. It gets myself out there. I like to be outgoing, be seen on stage.”
Genevieve, who plays multiple roles, returned to drama club for her senior year after having taken a couple years off.
“I like doing the performances,” she said. “I think it’s really fun. It’s just something to do.”
Sophomore Aubrey Bruk hopes drama club will be a stepping stone to a career as a special effects makeup artist, noting she wants to do “gore, blood and everything.”
For drama club, the makeup must be bold, but quickly changeable as many students play more than one part.
“My first year, I had so many quick makeup changes because there was, like, bears, there was cats, there was pigs,” Aubrey said. “It took a lot of different switching and making it simple and making it bold. It was a lot. Last play, I had to do cuts and scars. This time I’m gonna have to do cat makeup.”
Rodgers said it’s “hard to imagine” that it’s been 10 years. She’s had to overcome challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but the biggest recurring challenge is recruitment and cast members who are in many activities, such as Kaylin, who leaves rehearsal early for softball practice.
The reward for Rodgers is seeing how happy her actors are with the final product, she said.
“There’s also those kids that this is all they do,” Rodgers said. “It gives them a chance to be able to participate in something. It’s a different outlet. Just try and keep arts stuff alive.”
Show times are 7 p.m. and the play will be staged in the Brookfield school auditorium, 614 Bedford Road. Admission is $5 a person at the door.
Rodgers said she would like to invite past cast members to join the show as extras or in cameos, or to simply share their memories of their times on stage. Contact her at megan.rodgers@brookfieldschools.us
