West Clermont High School's GIRLS IN THE BOAT

Review by Ella Adams, Mercy McAuley High School Critic Team

As the lights dimmed and the race began, West Clermont High School's auditorium transformed into the competitive world of Olympic rowing. This extraordinary production of Girls in the Boat was a powerful display of history and female empowerment.

Spanning over the course of eighty years in roughly eighty minutes, Alice Austen's Girls in the Boat tells the story of the U.S. Women's Eight Olympic rowing team. Inspired by the real trials faced by female athletes in the past and present, this play follows generations of fearless women grappling with harsh prejudice, brutal opponents, and their own personal struggles. Despite their differences, the Girls in the Boat still came together to form a team of strong women who truly pushed against the current as they fought for equality and never settled for anything but first place.

The fast-paced storytelling of Girls in the Boat demands extreme precision, which was delivered flawlessly by West Clermont High School's cast and crew. The cast upheld high energy consistently, which helped ensure that the plot stayed in motion. Meanwhile, the crew's work was meticulously planned to ensure that the show could run seamlessly.

As Girl Six, Payden Scott brought an intense emotional journey onto the stage with sincerity. Through her heartfelt acting choices, Scott's performance revealed her character's unwavering determination to succeed despite the challenges that stood in her way. On the other hand, Stella Harvey's portrayal of Coxswain was fierce and unapologetic. With every shout, remark, and command, Harvey's unmissable presence onstage captured Coxswain's fiery nature.

This show would not be the same without its central ensemble -- the Girls in the Boat. Each of these performers presented their characters' unique stories while remaining a cohesive group. Throughout the entire show, the considerable amount of coordination, unity, and energy displayed by the Girls in the Boat is what truly made them a great team.

As the dramaturg, Maxx Stegemoller's role was to ensure that the contents of the play were depicted with accuracy. Stegemoller's work included closely studying the script, extensive historical research, and even talking to a real rowing coach. Thanks to Stegemoller's excellent dramaturgy, the cast was able to have a deeper understanding of the story and translate that into their performance. Simultaneously, the stage management done by Izzy Williams and Samantha Casteel was efficient and organized. Williams and Casteel helped make the show and rehearsal process run as smoothly as possible, keeping the whole cast and crew in the same boat.

From curtain up to the finish line, West Clermont High School's captivating production of Girls in the Boat was nothing short of gold-medal worthy.

Review by Clark Sayre, Walnut Hills High School Critic

As shouts filled the theater and the sound of lapping waves washed over the audience, West Clermont High School brought an old story to light in their production of Girls in the Boat, a story of how unity and perseverance triumph over all.

Authored by Alice Austen in 2022, Girls in the Boat follows the U.S. women's rowing team on its journey towards prominence as it encapsulates the successes, failures, and all of the challenges that the women have had to face since trying to make a name for themselves. A story of both individuality and community, Girls in the Boat mixes fact with fiction to give the U.S. women's rowing team the story they deserve.

West Clermont skillfully rose to the challenge of producing an intimate show in an auditorium setting. They expertly inserted moments of silence between the script's repetition and direct address to let the show's message truly sink in. This careful placement of beats allowed the audience to fully understand and process each of the plot points as they occurred.

Leading both the boat and the cast was Stella Harvey as the boisterous coxswain. Harvey combined an exclamatory tone with explosive outbursts to deftly convey her position as the head of the team. From the initial scene to the final curtain, she maintained an unwavering stage presence that grounded the show in truth while maintaining the ever-important message.

Manning the oars, Kaitlyn Neal and Carissa Swango, as the Stroke and Girl 5, were just as integral to the stirring story. Neal combined a stuck-up tone with a delicate sense of fragility to exquisitely represent the diversity of personalities on the team. Alongside her, Swango implemented extremely articulate line delivery to convey her passion about rowing to both her family and the audience. Altogether, the titular Girls in the Boat established themselves as an impressively cohesive unit throughout the entire show.

In addition to the poignant acting, the backstage elements allowed the actors to fully shine in their storytelling. The dramaturgy, led by Maxx Stegemoller, ensured that each and every cast member was well-informed about the setting of the show and what that setting meant for their characters. Additionally, the scenic crew, led by Samantha Casteel and Julien Glardon, created a set that, despite its simplicity, was malleable enough to fit all of the show's needs.

From touching acting to practical tech, West Clermont High School's Girls in the Boat set the record straight and showed that, with determination and persistence, anything is possible.

Review by Logan Dunn, Saint Ursula Academy Critic Team

As the curtain rises and the lights fade to black, the audience is met with a powerful chant from behind. Eight fiery girls, led by a raucous, determined coxswain, come marching down the aisle, setting the tone for a compelling performance full of ambition, perseverance, and poignancy.

Girls in the Boat, premiering in 2018, written by Alice Austen, is a moving play based on true stories of the U.S. Women's Olympic Rowing Team. Following the lives of various historical female rowers, Girls in the Boat dives into the various hardships and injustices faced by powerful female athletes in 20th and 21st century America. The show masterfully captures the diverse experiences of women in sports, resonating deeply with all audiences.

West Clermont High School's production of Girls in the Boat masterfully communicated the sentiment of the show, beautifully capturing the enduring trials and triumphs of the female experience. Executed by a wonderfully talented ensemble, the cast maintained excellent energy and emotion, keeping viewers deeply engaged throughout the entire production. The wonderfully skilled actors uniquely blended elements of historical accuracy with their own personal flair, creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Payden Scott, in the leading role of Girl 6, delivered a poignant performance, remarkably conveying her character's stubborn, headstrong attitude. Through physical pantomime and powerful delivery, Payden kept the audience hooked throughout the entire production. Her impeccable stage presence amplified the cast's overall performance, allowing each character to shine.

Playing the role of the Coxswain, Stella Harvey provided a humorous touch to the show, bringing an air of playfulness to the stage. She impressively upheld the authoritative character through her strong, booming voice and emphatic line delivery. Her constant use of dynamic gestures added to her engaging performance, enhancing the mood of each scene, whether it be compelling or comedic.

Of course, no show would be complete without its various technical aspects such as lighting, costumes, and sound. West Clermont High School displayed an excellent use of technical elements, greatly contributing to the veracity of the performance. Commendably timed sound cues, executed by London Bowling and Maxx Stegemoller, added a sense of believability to the show, transporting the audience to a rowing regatta. The simple yet effective set constructed by Samantha Casteel and Julien Glardon highlighted the actors onstage and complemented other technical elements while still being able to stand out.

This incredible performance of Girls in the Boat, performed by West Clermont High School, was poignantly moving and engagingly entertaining, capturing the immense talent of the actors on stage.

Excerpts From Other Top Reviews

"The coxswain's bold confidence and intense emotion were impressively brought to life by Stella Harvey. Her dedication to the role was evident through her fierce performance, consisting of both hilarious and passionate moments."

-Maria Blaker, Loveland High School Critic Team

"As impressive as each of the 9 was individually, the intensity that radiated from this performance was a result of their collective efforts. Their weighty representation of the earnest struggle of each of these girls to achieve something as a team, in addition to their quiet struggles in each of their personal lives, led to an emotionally charged and authentic performance. Each of their ability to quickly shift from quiet, somber scenes that touched on topics of death, intense disappointment, or self-doubt, to ones where the crew was competing in an adrenaline-fueled race to prove they were worth paying attention to was truly commendable."

-Brady Eastep, Milford High School Critic Team

"The sound in this show, designed by London Bowling , was incredibly impressive. There were sound effects for many scenes, due to the fact that the show was minimalistic and there weren't many props, so sound effects were often used to give a scene context. A lot of the sound effects were recorded by the sound tech themself, and they blended extremely well with every scene they were used in."

-Camdyn Drohan, Loveland High School Critic Team

"The triple threat dramaturg, publicist, and booth assistant Maxx Stegemoller ensured the show's success through her efficiency by preparing the cast with immense research to properly understand and portray their roles, even employing members of the Women's Queen City Rowing Club to teach the cast how to row with proper form. Another outstanding technical component was the lighting. Designed by Jayna Wilson, the lighting immersed viewers into the show through mood-reflective light colors and eloquent spotlighting."

-Katie Shackleford, The Summit Country Day Critic Team

"Leo Sheehy's portrayal of the Coach was nothing but impressive. Sheehy was a tough and inspiring leader who pushed the women's rowing team to their limits. Though strict and demanding, Sheehy's execution never made one doubt that she genuinely believed in the team's potential."

-Anderson Byrd, Larry A. Ryle High School Critic Team

"This powerful play was a success all the way from the bow to the stern. West Clermont did a superb job of authentically honoring this true story and bringing it to life."

-Stina Gulbrandson, Milford High School Critic Team