Katie Henry knew her play, “Room 12,” was good when it first appeared in the Berkeley Repertoire Teen One Acts festival during April 2007. But she never expected it to be so good that someone would try to pass it off as their own work.

Feedback to a Campanile article written about Speed Limit 25 and posted on the Paly Voice on May 4, first raised the concern that one of the plays seemed strangely similar to Henry’s “Room 12,” a play about a school eccentricity club. The feedback providers also indicated that they believed the director had seen Henry’s play prior to the production of Speed Limit 25.

Henry first got word of the matter a few weeks ago. “About a month ago, I was contacted by someone I had worked with during the Berkeley Rep production, who told me that the Berkeley Rep had received word that my play, or something based on my play, was going to be performed in Palo Alto,” Henry said. “With the help of Google, I found an article on The Paly Voice about Speed Limit 25, and a description of a play that sounded a lot like mine.”

The situation was at first confusing and unnerving to many, including Henry.

“I was shocked, at first,” Henry said. “I was shocked that someone had possibly taken my characters and my story, which are more mine than anything I own. I was angry. It seemed unfair that someone else could get credit for something I worked so hard on.”

The controversy prompted investigation. Voice Editor-in-Chief Adam Heeger requested a script of “Room 12,” and then attended Speed Limit 25 to check similarities between Henry’s work and the one in question. The two plays were almost identical, the characters names were exactly the same between both plays, and aside from slight rearrangement, the dialogue also matched with that of “Room 12.” The director in question could not be contacted for comment.

School officials quickly dealt with the situation.

“I received a $100 royalty for the use of my play, as all non-Palo Alto High School playwrights do, and the program was changed to include my name,” Henry said.

Despite the controversy surrounding the play, it received much applause and audience admiration even after the program change.

Members of the play raced up after the show to meet Henry. For the purpose of this story, cast members have declined to be interviewed.

“I was angry, but now I feel differently,” Henry said in consideration of how everything has turned out concerning her play’s Palo Alto High School debut. “I’m honored that my play was chosen for Speed Limit 25, and despite the way it got there, I have no hard feelings. My play was wonderfully acted and directed, and really, that’s all that matters to me.”