15th Play - The Girls’ Guide to Friends and Demons by Devony Hof

I love a good camp movie. I didn’t even realize this was a camp play. Not that kind of camp, summer camp! Friends and Demons in the title got my attention, and I thought this was a charming piece.

Summary: “After camp counselor Liz Evans is ritually sacrificed by her so-called friend, she descends into Hell, tethered to Maksara, a demon trapped in the body of a teenage girl. Together they babysit the Antichrist and confront the consequences of Liz's sacrifice, which brought another friend back from the dead. The Girls’ Guide to Friends and Demons is a dark comedy that grapples with the Faustian bargains of female adolescence.” New Play Exchange

Laura’s thoughts in brief: Although this is not a well-known play, I think it could be really fun for colleges. I will likely use some of the scenes and monologues for my students. It’s definitely a young person’s play - the characters are all teens or younger, with the exception of Dad (Mephistopheles). I loved the descriptions of the characters: “Grating at times, but always well-intentioned.” “Goth and gloomy.” “An ancient demon with the appearance of a teenage girl.” “A sweet-looking boy with the power to raise all of Hell and turn Earth into a smoking wasteland of pain and suffering.” “Favorite pet of the Antichrist.” I mean - with this great specificity of characters, how could you not be intrigued?!

The most interesting part of the play is when Liz meets Maksara - literally extreme opposites. They are set up to conflict, and yet there is something about the earnest Liz that not only Maksara, but Young Cerberus and Anthony (the Antichrist who Maksara is babysitting) find hard to resist. Liz’s tenacity and babysitting skills (Babysitters Weekly apparently has some very relevant articles!) help her navigate the Hell/Purgatory that she finds herself in, and watching her and Maksara get to know each other is probably the most fun thing in the play.

The plot by an “evil corporation” to take over the camp seems less important than the girls (and Anthony, a bit) learning life lessons about friendship and sacrifice. (Mini-SPOILER) There is a “happy ending” that seems a little weird, but we’re glad to have it. Although the play is a dark comedy (you know, human sacrifice and whatnot), it is a comedy and needs the happy ending. I would definitely suggest this as a good play for schools. It might be too much for high school, but great fun for colleges. Good roles for women, yay!

READ MORE! So, I don’t think this has had productions yet, at least that I could find on the internet, but here’s the page on New Play Exchange where you can download the play and learn more!:

https://newplayexchange.org/script/2711416/the-girls-guide-to-friends-and-demons