My school is staging a production of Wicked that was adapted and cast by two friends and me. We’re so excited! The issue is my best friend decided to work on the crew and has become the self-appointed overseer of the show. I’ve tried to signal that she should take a step back, but she’s oblivious. Is it OK to tell her directly? —FRIEND
If I understand correctly, this is a school play, so you probably don’t have the authority to bar another student from working on it. But you don’t have to let your friend take over either. If there’s a faculty adviser involved, share your concerns with them. If not, tell your friend nicely that her work on the stage crew doesn’t entitle her to run the show.
—Adapted from “Social Q’s” in The New York Times Magazine