←Recommendations of In The Whole History of Hi-Q

We've all known someone that was so certain of their intelligence that they spoke pompously while misusing the big words they threw around like weapons. If we haven't met them in person, they are everywhere on social media. But in Hi-Q, intelligence IS everything. And arrogance will destroy you. Tommy is a frustrating yet hilarious character. Great roles for student performers.

A short but excellent tale of a sinking ship. In Tommy, Gatton has written a perfect depiction of willful ignorance. It's not that he isn't smart enough to see his own faults. He's merely unwilling, choosing to foist blame onto others. In the end, the captain does indeed go down with the ship. Well done!

Nothing is as bizarrely high-stakes as high school activities. Because in the grand scheme of things, they mean nothing — yet they shape who teenagers become. Vince Gatton's play demonstrates that beautifully, without trivializing the drama for the teenagers involved. The play takes a delightfully comic turn at a key moment, one I won't spoil here. Gatton gives us a realistic, sympathetic and very funny look at high schoolers. Tommy has a tough (but ultimately lucrative, no doubt) future ahead of him.

Excellent job!

Unwarranted arrogance is one of the most undesirable traits imaginable. Vince Gatton has given us a most desirable account of someone with that trait. A tale for all of us who have had to suffer that one “friend” who knew it all without knowing anything. A perfect vehicle for teen actors.

Gatton was written a profoundly sad tale of a misunderstood genius, undermisappreciated by ignoramic inferiors he must rely on lorem ipsum, while they inextanly and uquoterically dismiss his ischemic knowledge to askance their own egos. Idiots, indeed!

Actually, he’s done no such thing. HI-Q beautifully captures the apocalyptically high stakes of high school extracurriculars. If you don’t know a Tommy, then sadly you probably *were* Tommy. Or you were just lucky! (I would like to take this time to apologize…)

A glorious character study of social and (pseudo)intellectual pecking orders. I loved it maxima culpa!

Where's a strong teacher advisor when you need one? As a former high school teacher, I felt ever second of this teenage angst. Each character was well constructed, and the banter felt authentic. This piece would give audiences a good laugh, and maybe a little pain as they think back to their high school selves.

Having chaperoned more High School thespian and debate tournaments than I can count (Sorry, Gresham, OR Days Inn - I really did *try*, and I understand the lifetime ban.) Anyway - Wow. Gatton nails the culture of teen intellectual/creative competition. Ugh. What a weird world, populated by talented and gifted kids on the edge of breakdown and backstabbing, seemingly always. This dynamic piece is funny as hell, and simmers with a subtext about the frustrations of youth that seem evergreen, and the shortcomings of any system that would try to codify their light. A perfect scene for teen actors.

A very interesting game of mental chess between three highly intelligent and highly flawed teens. I loved the level of vocabulary that Gatton gives to these characters. I empathized with each one of them at some point in the script. Feels very full for a 10 minute play. Each character has their own tactics that they use, completely different from the other characters. A great piece on the nature of competition.

I am a little skeptical these days of any group with a Q in their name, and after reading this fantastic play about brainy, uber-competitive teens, I am still skeptical. I am not too sure Hi-Q either fosters intellect or builds character. What I love about this play is that it depicts a teen subculture not all that common in young adult drama: the so-called smart kids who want to win any cost. I also love that they take it upon themselves to decide who to oust, and that it’s not always who you might think. Hysterical!

The arrogance of youth and the pettiness of teens all wrapped up in a nice little package. Gatton creates a great scene here where the reluctance of a teen to accept their own shortcomings becomes front and center. Well-paced and a great script for young people to tackle. Excellent!