Riley Douglas is sharing his talents as the writer of this year’s fall play, Rewritten: The Restraint of Magic

Riley has been involved in Hartfield’s performing arts program since sixth grade. That’s seven years of being on stage! When asked what inspired him to take on the task of writing this year’s play, he shared, “I just love writing. I thought it would be really cool to have something I’ve written and created for everyone to see and enjoy.”

This year’s production is based on Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, a choice that came with an honest (and funny) explanation. “It’s actually the only Shakespeare play I’ve ever read,” Riley laughed. “Ms. Kimball made me read it in ninth grade, and I liked it, so I thought, why not base it off that one?”

Riley described Rewritten as a “comedic adventure” full of unexpected twists. The story follows two twins, Briar and Oswald, who can’t stand each other but are constantly forced to be together because of family circumstances. Desperate to be apart, they visit a mysterious “magical lawyer” who promises to help them by creating a restraining order sealed with a magic pen. Still, first, the twins must go on a quest to find the enchanted ink themselves. “It’s definitely a comedy,” Riley said. “Hopefully the audience will be laughing. It’s dumb in the best way possible.”

When asked about his favorite moment, Riley hinted at a “Princess Bride-type scene… with pigs,” promising a surprise for the audience to enjoy.

Riley’s creativity shows through every part of Rewritten: The Restraint of Magic, and this year’s student-led production is sure to bring laughter and imagination to the Hartfield stage.

Catch the show this Saturday and support our Fine Arts students!
Get your tickets here.