This is Our Youth
Kenneth Lonergan’s This is Our Youth is a well-known coming of age play, set in New York’s Upper East Side at the beginning of the Reagan era. Set over 48 hours it tells of three lost souls - ,Warren Straub a 19-year-old who has stolen $15 thousand dollars from his business tycoon father, Dennis, his drug dealer friend, and Warren’s love interest, Jessica. This incarnation is presented by Marked Studios, for a very short production as part of Subilicious for Fringe World.
The popup set from Lauren McNulty sets us in the disorganised flat of Dennis Zeigler, giving us a good idea of character and era - with good choice of props. Lauren also designed the costumes, again very indicative of personality and typical of 1982, having fun with the clothing of Fashion student Jessica.
Great performances from all three actors. Angus Price brings depth to Dennis, and gives us things to like about this explosive, manipulative young drug-dealer. Ryan Shaw is very believable as Warren, with excellent physicality and nuance. Claudia Fitzgerald is lovely as the fragile but insightful Jessica Goldman - creating a believable emerging relationship with Warren. Excellent intimacy co-ordination from Alice Schlipalius.
Dealing with some big issues, this show seemed to make some of the Opening Night audience uncomfortable, laughing in excess in lighter moments and forgetting that they were not at home in terms of comments throughout. Kudos to the cast for working with these interruptions in this intimate space.
A brief opportunity to catch this nicely directed, well-acted version of this well-known play - and one of the few full length plays in Fringe World.
Kimberley Shaw
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