This Is Our Youth - Spotlight on Plays - 10.20.2020

Tonight's play reading stars Lucas Hedges, Paul Mescal and Grace Van Patten. I enjoyed the actors in the 2014 revival but can't remember much of the play itself. Two boys try to impress a girl with stolen drug money or some such?

Their previous reading, The Best Man, was slow paced. But a smaller cast should be more agile. I'm a fan of Hedges' work so I'll be watching.

https://www.todaytix.com/x/nyc/shows/22424-This-Is-Our-Youth

Jordan Catalano said: "I'm looking forward to this, for Hedges. Part of me was really hoping they'd get Gyllenhaal to do it since he (I believe?) originated the role in London."

Yes he did! With Anna Paquin and Hayden Christiansen!

I assume the humor comes from watching teens act like cynical David Mamet types. These two look older so this first scene just plays like Mamet. The Irish Paul Mescal has a convincing New York accent.

The 2014 revival had a lot of physical comedy that a reading can't replicate, but the script felt weightless. The discussions of politics and privilege sting more in 2020. A successful reading overall, though I couldn't help but wishing the play was only 90 minutes.

Updated On: 10/20/20 at 10:13 PM