The friendships that we have often leave lasting marks on our lives. Relationships impact every choice that we make, from major decisions to restaurants that must be avoided. The friendships that we have when we’re young are some that stay with us for the longest amount of time. These are the people you grow up with. They are the people who saw you as an awkward 6th grader and a brace-faced high school freshman. They knew your deepest secrets and you knew theirs. As we get older, these friendships fade and sometimes subconsciously dissolve. We may not stay in contact with those people forever, but they will live on in our memories even after they are gone.

In Peter Parnell’s play, “Scooter Thomas Makes it to the Top of the World,” the story of friends who have drifted apart is shown through the lives of Scooter and Dennis, boys who were best friends growing up, but have grown apart over the years. When Dennis hears of Scooter’s death, he hurries home for the first time in a long time. Through memories of his adventures, Dennis talks with Scooter’s ghost, and tries to figure out what actually happened to his best friend.

The two characters are almost opposites of each other. Dennis is a successful architect, while Scooter seems to have dropped out of life and works at the post office. Dennis and Scooter’s shared memories illustrate how each reacted to getting older and maturing; one boy did, and one did not.

Many pieces produced as part of Fringe Fest Erie have smaller casts than main stage productions. This show has only two cast members, junior communications major Ted Hallowell, and junior biology major Ethan Kelley. As Dennis, Hallowell is responsible for the majority of the play’s dialogue—while Dennis is not involved in every memory that is relived onstage, Hallowell portrays every incidental character that does appear. “Without a doubt, it’s the most challenging role I’ve ever played,” he stated.

“Scooter Thomas” is directed by Joshua Mizikowski.

Performances will be held in the Morosky Café on Saturday, March 15 at 2 p.m., and Sunday, March 16 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $5, and all proceeds support the Schuster Theatre’s trip to the International Collegiate Theatre Festival held in Edinburgh, Scotland this summer.