What I liked
The dialogue between the teens made me feel like I was a fly on the wall in an actual high school classroom. At the same time, the actors made me forget that I was watching a performance and instead I wanted to be in that classroom with them so I could join their conversation and be a part of their friend group.
What I didn't like
So many issues were touched upon – pre marital sex, birth control, S&M, bullying, homosexuality, abortion, divorce, social media etc….. It would be interesting to see each of these topics explored in their own “class/topic of the semester” with the same characters/actors as a way of following Taylor, Alaska, Benjie and Sophie and getting to know them more.
My overall impression
I absolutely loved this production! The dialogue and interactions between the teens was genuine and spot-on. The content was timely, honest, witty and poignant. Unlike a lot of teen dramadies, not one character was a trope or cookie-cutter stereotype. Each actor did an excellent job conveying the nuances of their internal and external conflicts while confronting their own personal “crisis.” The friendship portrayed between the teens was sincere even when that friendship was tested and you could relate to the pressures of juggling friends, family, faith, politics, social media, school etc…. Despite, or maybe because of their flaws, each character was someone I liked and my teenage self would have wanted to be friends with each of them. Bravo to all for this wonderfully insightful and thought producing show! Very well written, produced, directed and acted.
