Audience witnesses angst in 'Youth'

This Is Our Youth" opened triumphantly Friday evening. The crowd, although small and older than would seem normal, squirmed through the adolescent angst right along with the characters. \nThe play opens to a clothing-strewn efficiency apartment, typical of any 20-something bachelor. Venetian blind lighting put the audience right on the other side of the apartment's fourth wall. The set stepped right out of the 1980s; the props, the costumes, everything was of perfect vintage. The music was a particularly nice touch, and Olivia Newton John's "Physical" made several situation-appropriate comic appearances. \nThe story focuses on three young adults on the Upper West Side. Dennis, played by junior Brad Fletcher, is a sharp-tongued, slightly adrift small-time drug dealer. His friend, Warren, a greasy-haired whiny rich kid, needs a place to stay after his father kicks him out. Warren, played by senior Kenny Dellinger, soon reveals that he has stolen $15,000 cash from his father. Dennis seems effortlessly cool, while Warren wants very badly to be as cool as Dennis. Fletcher and Dellinger have a finely tuned onstage chemistry; the power balance in the relationship is established within moments. Dennis and Warren decide to buy cocaine with the stolen money, use a little, and re-sell it, turning enough of a profit to repay Warren's father. Warren can then return the money. Soon Jessica, played by senior Christina Pumariega, enters the mix. Dennis leaves to buy the drugs, and during his absence, Warren and Jessica leave for a hotel room. \nThe next afternoon, Warren returns, and grudgingly recounts his evening for Dennis. Jessica stops by during Dennis' absence, and she and Warren attempt to hash things out. Warren really shows his sensitive side at this point; Dellinger did a great job of showing Warren's emotional struggle as he decides to pursue an adult relationship. Cut to the chase, Jessica leaves and Warren is crushed. In the midst of his turmoil, he spills the cocaine into the carpet. When Dennis returns, he returns with news: a fellow drug dealer is dead of an overdose. This is Dennis' moment of truth. He realizes it could have easily been him, and launches into a rant about what he should do with his future, since he only now seems to realize that he has one. His reaction to the ruined drugs is minor compared to his newfound terror at his own mortality. \nThe characters, especially the two male characters, all grow up a little during the two hours that we know them. Warren faces Dennis down about his constant insults, by the end of the play Warren seems a little more brave. Dennis decides to do something with his life, although he doesn't decide what. His wisecracks, funny in the first act, are dull and tired by the second act, and he knows it. Jessica realizes that messing with people's emotions has consequences, and that maybe she can be worth more than a one-night stand. \nAll of the actors showed great range in their portrayals. Fletcher whipped Dennis' lines off with a cocky smirk; his litany about his future, or lack thereof, near the end of the play is one of the play's high points. Dellinger beautifully played up Warren's awkwardness; his scene with Jessica is the most painful, but the most true to life. They want very badly to impress each other, and the tension is almost unbearable. \nDuring intermission there was quite a bit of college-days story swapping, but the crowd left with something to think about. The humor of the play is unmistakable, especially the physical humor of the first act, although the audience left quiet. The characters had decided that today was the day to change their lives; would the audience do the same? "This Is Our Youth" is a definite thought-provoking must-see.