Here’s looking at you, kid

Play examines antisocial side of social media

Social media and all its impact will be explored in the Boardmore Theatre’s upcoming production of Evan Placey’s play, “Girls Like That.”

Under the direction of Mike McPhee, the play opens tonight at the Boardmore on the Cape Breton University campus. Performances are also set for Nov. 17-18 and Nov. 24-25 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 26 at 2 p.m.

The play will also be presented to middle and high school students in the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board when they visit the playhouse from Nov. 20-23.

Artistic director Todd Hiscock says this is exactly the kind of play the Boardmore Theatre is good at producing.

“We have a large student population participating in the play for which they are a perfect fit,” said Hiscock. “The cast of 16 female youth can easily identify with the play’s content. Each of them brings their own personal perspective to their roles.”

The play follows a teenage student, as a naked photograph of her goes viral. Rumours spread across smartphones like wildfire and her reputation becomes toxic, threatening to shatter the fragile unity of the girls she grew up with.

McPhee, who is also a high school drama teacher, is well aware of the effects of social media on youth.

“Most adults cannot begin to understand the impact that technology and social media is having on our youth,” said McPhee. “The play tries to present these complexities in a compelling and sometimes brutally honest way. It attempts to make sense of how our humanity and our sense of community is being shaped by the rapidly changing world around us.”