THIS IS OUR YOUTH previews- Page 2

[After Eight]

Posted: 8/21/14 at 10:28am

"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]

Posted: 8/21/14 at 10:51am

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]

Posted: 8/21/14 at 8:42pm

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?

Updated On: 8/21/14 at 08:42 PM

[musicman_bwayfan]

Posted: 8/22/14 at 8:26pm

Has anyone been to the stage door for the show?

[Patash]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 12:36pm

So is it running 2 hours 25 minutes WITH intermission?

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

[brucebossa]

Posted: 8/25/14 at 1:00pm

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]

Posted: 8/26/14 at 9:03am

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]

Posted: 8/26/14 at 12:23pm

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. Updated On: 8/26/14 at 12:23 PM

[mamaleh]

Posted: 8/27/14 at 8:58am

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.

Updated On: 8/27/14 at 08:58 AM

Posted: 8/30/14 at 12:15am

[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.

Updated On: 8/30/14 at 12:15 AM

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 9:22am

It's the same music at every performance.

[xxdrewboy85xx]

Posted: 8/30/14 at 12:00pm

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

[LucyEth]

Posted: 9/3/14 at 12:50pm

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.

[PJPan]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 9:01am

Saw it on Saturday and I agree with LucyEth by saying...meh. I really wanted to like it. I did.

I felt the play was very lacking in forward momentum or any characters I actually wanted to watch for the far-too-long length (the first show in a while I spent wondering how much longer it was going to take). Culkin was a standout to me - I dreaded when he left the room since I knew I'd be left with the other characters. Cera is much more suited to film acting; his delivery never changed and I wanted to count how many times he lifted his arms in shrugging frustration. Gevinson's delivery was far too abrasive from the get-go to have any kind of empathy for the character. Side question - is there any reason why it had to be 1982 other than the Reagan references? I just didn't see the need for such specificity.

[LucyEth]

Posted: 9/8/14 at 4:32pm

Lonergan was born in 1962, so he would have been the age of these characters in 1982. Seems he wanted to reflect on and write about a particular time in his own life. Which is not to say, necessarily, that the piece is autobiographical. That I couldn't speak to.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 9/9/14 at 11:52pm

Saw this last Saturday with a TDF ticket. The chemistry between Kieran Culkan and Michael Cera is terrific, Their relationship is totally believable. The play really cooks with those two on stage. As another poster said, Kieran Culkan is quite the stage actor. I was very impressed. Thought his timing, and characterization were spot on and he has terrific stage presence. The girl, Tavi Gevison speaks in a sing song manner that alternates on two notes and it is irritating and the show doesn't quite work when she is on stage. It's a good play, not a great one. Totally worth it for the performances of the boys.