Content warning: This article mentions suicide.
Some things should stay in 2017. “Between the Lines” is one of them.
Student-run theater group Torn Ticket II performed this musical in Balch Arena Theater on Nov. 21, 22 and 23. Based on the 2012 novel of the same name, “Between the Lines” explores the life of 17-year-old Delilah McPhee, played by sophomore Zoe Browning. Her home life has fallen apart after her parents’ separation and she struggles socially at school. During moments when reality overwhelms her, she finds solace in books.
One of these books is particularly special to Delilah: a children’s novel titled “Between the Lines.” It is a typical cliché fairytale of a prince who battles dragons and falls in love with a princess. But when Prince Oliver, played by junior James Allen, falls in love with Delilah and reveals to her that the fairytale characters have lives of their own when she closes the book, her world is turned upside down.
The in-universe tale was not the only cliché on the Balch stage; the entire musical storyline felt trite. Complete with a popular mean girl, who plays the victim and makes the protagonist’s life miserable and a mom who just “doesn’t understand her,” the plot feels overdone.
Furthermore, it dated itself. Its early 2010s young adult fiction origins were obvious, with the narrative surrounding a “quirky girl” who finds pride in the fact that she has a sort of intellectual individuality. While this may have been popular with the millennial generation, Gen Z sees this “manic pixie dream girl” character archetype as corny. Lines such as “Hi, I’m Delilah and I’m socially awkward,” “That’s so savage” and “I’m the epitome of awesome” (which some may connect to the post-ironic “Senorita Awesome” meme), made the mostly college-aged audience squirm in their seats.
The romanticization of suicide, when Delilah’s mom does not begin to understand her until after her attempt to take her own life, and the seemingly random insertion of a nonbinary character with a stereotypical nonconformist attitude are also aspects of the musical that the more progressive Gen Z would collectively appear to condemn. It was certainly an unusual choice for a show that was to be performed for students at a liberal arts college in 2024.
But even during the cringiest moments, the cast and crew made the show a pleasure to watch. While some costumes seemed to lack intentionality, and the decision to have a crew member who was not in costume playing a part onstage was questionable, the hair styling, makeup and presentation of the actors added an additional layer of aesthetic charm to the impressive acting performances.
Browning was onstage for the majority of the show and her strong vocal talent never diminished throughout the over two hour runtime. Additionally, Browning delivered every single line with raw emotion. It is difficult not to empathize with her heartbreaking despair as she feels like suicide is her only escape from her desolate reality, or with her earnest infatuation for Prince Oliver as she lets herself fall into his embrace.
Senior Megan Mathieu also gave a noteworthy performance as Ms. Winx, the sexually frustrated spinster librarian mentor, during the musical number “Mr. Darcy and Me.” While describing a romantic fantasy about the central male character of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice,” she engaged in a rousing scene complete with a fabulous dance routine and vocal runs that showcased her unique talent.
The dancing in this show was also remarkable. Each dancer performed with enthusiasm and grace throughout the entire show. The kicklines were perfect, with fabulous energy radiating from the cast throughout the entire theater. One of the most joyful parts of the show was a dancing sequence led by junior Jake Pandina’s brilliant performance as Frump, a human who is turned into a dog at the beginning of the fairytale. Pandina and other cast members lit up the stage with a radiant tap performance that was certainly no easy feat.
Aside from the glaring antiquity of the script that detracted from the immersive viewing experience, Torn Ticket II put on a magnificent production that was a joy to watch and clearly the realization of many hours of hard work and a passion for creative storytelling.
