Drama: A Graphic Novel

It is opening night of “Moon Over Mississippi.” Through a series of panels with very little dialogue, Telgemeier depicts a very successful show. The crew and cast work together seamlessly to pull off a perfect performance—with Callie seeing to every detail regarding the cannon and other props and theater effects.

During the play’s second performance the next night, toward the end of the show, West accidentally trips and falls on stage. He and Bonnie finish their number, but Bonnie sulks while everyone tends to West and his bleeding knee backstage. “Nobody asked me if I’m okay. He bumped into me on this trip to the floor, y’know. And who helped him up after that?” (172). Jesse tells Bonnie that she is “unbelievable,” and West asks her why she is “creating extra drama” for herself (172).

Later, the crew is cleaning up the stage after the show. West comes by and thanks Bonnie and Jesse for taking care of him after his fall. He also thanks Jesse for tutoring Bonnie—“She’s actually in danger of passing now!” (173), he quips. It’s then that Jesse reveals that Bonnie asked him to “help her cheat on her last test” (173). Jesse immediately refused, and guesses that she must have increased her studying as a result. He also resigned as her tutor. “That was pretty messed up of her”, West says (174). This surprises Jesse, and he tells West that he thought West might be mad at him for not going along with Bonnie’s request. This prompts Callie to tell Jesse that West is “actually a pretty cool guy” (174) after West leaves the auditorium.

The next day is the play’s final show. At 15 minutes before curtain, the crew discovers that water has been spilled all over the stage. When Callie goes to get the mop, she overhears West and Bonnie arguing. West has confronted Bonnie about her request that Jesse help her cheat, and he has broken up with her. Bonnie is heartbroken that West has chosen to break up with her right before their final performance together.

Callie then collides into Loren and accidentally sets off the stage cannon. Its confetti blows everywhere and lands in the surrounding puddles of water. Callie is in conniptions because she has just blown the last confetti popper. She and Jesse retrieve the sopping pieces of confetti and put them back into the contraption, hoping for the best. But when it’s time for the cannon to blow during the show, all it does it release a wet gurgle.

Then, as Bonnie and West are on stage, Matt says into his crew mic that Bonnie is “getting really emotional tonight” (179). Callie replies with, “Probably ‘cause West just dumped her” (179). Then she realizes that the entire stage crew has heard her. Everyone becomes distracted, and Loren chides them to focus on the show.

After the curtain falls for intermission, Bonnie runs away in tears. She locks herself into a supply closet and refuses to come out and finish her performance. They can’t reach her alternate by phone, and everyone begins to panic. But they push West onstage to begin his performance, as the character Maybelline does not make an appearance until 10 minutes into the play’s second act.

Ultimately, Jesse, wearing Bonnie’s red dress costume, emerges onto the stage. He performs the part of Maybelline beautifully. And, to the shock of many audience members, he and West even share a kiss at the end of the number beneath the magnolia tree. The show goes on, with Jesse standing in for Bonnie throughout it, and it finishes successfully.

At the cast after-party, Bonnie is harangued by everyone. Matt also criticizes Jesse for performing in a dress, saying, “What guy sits around studying a woman’s role in a musical?” Bonnie replies, “A talented one, that’s who!” Matt then tells her that “Maybe it’s time you started chasing after real men,” to which Bonnie replies, “Why, do you know any?” (195). She then storms off to enjoy some pizza.

Soon, Jesse makes his appearance at the party—while still wearing the dress. Callie wraps him in an embrace and tells him that he performed amazingly. Jesse then asks her to the eighth-grade formal. Callie says yes, but that she’ll need to find a dress.