{"id":1992,"date":"2013-08-31T12:05:32","date_gmt":"2013-08-31T15:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.twisitheatreblog.com\/?p=1992"},"modified":"2023-07-08T18:16:14","modified_gmt":"2023-07-08T21:16:14","slug":"mature-young-adults","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.twisitheatreblog.com\/?p=1992","title":{"rendered":"Mature Young Adults"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"MYA<\/a><\/p>\n

wesley j. colford & rene\u00e9 hach\u00e9<\/p>\n

Aim for the Tangent\u2019s<\/a>Mature Young Adults<\/em> is a new play by Wesley J. Colford, a young playwright\/actor originally from Sydney, Nova Scotia that was commissioned by the <\/span>Paprika Festival <\/a>in Toronto while he was a Playwright-in-Residence. It plays at the <\/span>Art Gallery of Nova Scotia<\/a> in Halifax as part of the <\/span>Atlantic Fringe Festival<\/a>, which runs through September 8th, 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mature Young Adults<\/em> explores the (mostly) covert relationship between Jonathan and Caitlin, two teenagers that live in Sydney and New Waterford respectively as, like in Annie Hall<\/em>, Jonathan attempts to retrace his steps to find the exact moment when everything suddenly went wrong. The chemistry between the two is often endearing and joyful, yet bubbling just beneath the surface are signs of manipulation, codependence and obsession. The play also alludes to how toxic a society that forcefully chastises and stigmatizes sexuality and sexual curiosity can be to the development of a healthy relationship and one\u2019s own self esteem.<\/p>\n

Colford gives a lovely performance as Jonathan, bumbling over his words, feeling all of his emotions with ardent intensity and continually oscillating between being sweet and being, albeit his good intentions, a bit too much. Rene\u00e9 Hach\u00e9 is adorable as Caitlin, she has a beautiful vulnerability and wide open heart, but the audience also is able to see her grow and settle into her own skin and to empower herself amid a tangled web of mixed emotions and confusion.<\/p>\n

Colford\u2019s dialogue captures the cadences of speech for eighteen year olds nicely, but is less realistic in the flashback scenes when Caitlin and Jonathan are fifteen. There are a few elements that seem a bit contrived that could be achieved in a subtler way and I would have liked to see Colford play more with Caitlin\u2019s language, as New Waterford is such a unique linguistic dreamboat, which would have rooted the story even more fervently in its specific time and place.<\/p>\n

Overall, however, Mature Young Adults<\/em> is a strong piece with two compelling performances that I found to be honest and charming.<\/p>\n

TWISI Star Rating:\u00a0\"4<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch the Trailer Here:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n