THIS IS OUR YOUTH previews

[After Eight]

"The trouble may be: the copies have been so plentiful, the original model now feels stale."

Actually, how original was the model? The same assemblage of slacker losers appeared two years previously in the parking lot of SubUrbia, and in the 60s, Moonchildren, and who knows how many plays after that presented us with their distant cousins.

Wouldn't it have been nice if playwrights had written plays about young people who weren't irresponsible, doped-up jerks?

[newintown]

As I noted above, I remember feeling that there was a glut of such plays at the time, and I distinctly recall thinking this one was much like SubUrbia, as AE points out. I thought it owed a lot to many of Shanley's one-acts, beloved in acting classes, because it allows student actors to get weaned away from "acting" and just sit and say the lines.

[Auggie27]

True, the feckless, directionless characters under 30 have been around a while. To me, "Suburbia" is far more ambitious, bringing in war vets, immigration, ethnic diversity via the owner of the 7-11, and a broader, more complex American cultural canvas in general, not just cannabis-fueled, post-adolescent naval gazing. What "Youth" does is look at the syndrome in sharp focus. I looked at the printed script tonight, and realized how many of these beats have been seen in film, now, as well. As an expose of a demographic, it's devoid of surprises; as a fresh artistic spin on youth's folly, it's been taken to greater extremes. It will be interesting to see how well this production does. Are we at a place wherein the kids of the 90s inspire nostalgia? Is the play being done as a period piece?

[musicman_bwayfan]

Has anyone been to the stage door for the show?

[Patash]

So is it running 2 hours 25 minutes WITH intermission?

Seeing the matinee this Wednesday. Gotta catch a train after.

[brucebossa]

I went Sunday - and to tell the truth I didn't check my watch when it was over but I'd say about 2 hours and 15 or 20 minutes. I do remember thinking it should be 100 minutes with no intermission as a previous poster pointed out.

I actually liked Cera and Culkin. I saw the original and sat there trying to remember it but I could not. And after the curtain came down, I realized why. There really isn't much to it. And I will probably, again, forget what it is about by next season.

Saw it with TDF and I was glad I did ... but that's because I like seeing most things, even things I don't care for just to give myself a slant on the whole season.

[Sauja]

I was much more engaged by this than some of the others reporting back so far. I actually really loved it. It's a character piece--as mentioned, it's not action heavy, but the dialogue is so finely layered that you know so much about these characters but it all feels organic.

Cera is doing great work. Warren felt so familiar--tortured, a bit "off," but sneakily intelligent and just deeply hurt. I was less sure of Culkin at first, but as the play progressed, he won me over, bringing surprising shades of humanity to a character who could just be played as a complete dick. Ditto Tavi Gevinson in a fantastic debut finding world's of pain and intelligence in a character others might have played as a shrew.

It's wonderfully, wonderfully acted and directed, and it all felt achingly real.

[mamaleh]

Does anyone know where the youth rush seats are located? Daughter wants to know. Thanks.

EDIT: I answered my own question. Daughter tells me she was given mezz box.

[mamaleh]

My daughter ended up taking me to the show last night. For all those who normally eschew the boxes (as I do), i can personally attest that the Right Box A, Seats 1 and 2, afford a fantastic, unobstructed view. As to the play itself, while it may not rank in the pantheon of the greats (I'd never seen a production before), it held my attention, all 2:25 of it. The dialogue spewing from the mouths, often at rapid fire, of the disaffected young adults of the early '80s Upper West Side sounded authentic and natural, especially as delivered by Kieran Culkin. I hadn't realized what a good stage actor he is. Michael Cera was all gangly arms and puppy-dog insecurity. He was fine, although perhaps not quite so effective as Culkin. Tavi Gevinson struck me as kind of one-note, but I can see her improving as she gets more performances under her belt. The touching scenes intermingled nicely with the more humorous ones. The house looked nearly full, a good sign for improved future weekly grosses. Recommended.

[Broadway Local]

[minor spoiler alert]

Is the music played during Act I the same every night? Tonight (8/29), Warren played two obscure Frank Zappa cuts: "Mystery Roach" from the 200 Motels soundtrack, and "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up" from Joe's Garage. They seemed to fit the plot. But there were other LPs in his suitcase.

[AC126748]

It's the same music at every performance.

[xxdrewboy85xx]

"Mystery Roach" and "Lucille has messed up my mind" are written in the script as the songs to use.

[LucyEth]

Wow, I'd been kicking myself for years that I missed this play the first time around, was excited to finally get see it. All I can say is...meh. There's not much there there, although Lonergan certainly knows how awkward, disaffected upper East side young adults talk. But do we really need to hear what they have to say? I'm not averse to plotless plays ("Long Day's Journey" anyone?), but I have to be engaged by the characters, and in this case I wasn't. The actors somewhat make up for this, although Cera isn't doing much more than playing Michael Cera, and Gevinson is rather strident. (She's not quite living up to the hype of her New York magazine cover story.) All in all, I can't say this is something you should run out to see. You won't be bored out of your mind if you do, but it's not much more than an adequate evening at the theater.