Numb.

That is the only word to describe the feeling of walking out of the Huss Center after watching St. Paul Academy and Summit School’s production of The Laramie Project.

The cast carried the performance gracefully. Though some of the beliefs of the characters they played went against their own, each cast member held their head strong and brought each character to life. The hardest part about watching this play, was the fact that this was an actual event and the fact that there are people out there who believe and act in such a manner.

A key scene from the performance was Aaron McKinney’s confession and Dennis Shepard’s testimony. These characters were played by senior Jack Romans. In McKinney’s confession it was mentioned that McKinney would never see his kid again, then seamlessly Romans transformed from McKinney to Dennis Shepard, another father who would never see his son again.

“Matt’s beating, hospitalization and funeral focused worldwide attention on hate. Good is coming out of evil. People have said enough is enough. I miss my son, but I am proud to be able to say that he is my son,” Dennis Shepard’s words recited by senior Jack Romans.

The part of this play that is the most heartbreaking is the fact that this is a real story. The Laramie Project shows an audience the depths to which humanity can fall and the heights of love and compassion.