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Regional Reviews: Florida - Southern I and You Also see John's reviews of Bonnie & Clyde, Into the Woods and The Wiz
Caroline is a high school senior whose deteriorating health has left her to complete her school year at home. She has an unnamed, genetic liver condition that has placed her on a transplant list. In the face of the seriousness of her illness, her coping mechanism is isolationism, and a quick wit turned on any who invade her emotional space. She holds those around her at arm's length, and is wary of anyone who attempts to be nice to her. Enter Anthony—suspiciously invading at least her physical space. He is a fellow classmate who informs her that they have been assigned to work on an English class project together on the works of Walt Whitman, and it is due tomorrow. He is a bit much for her at first—a popular overachiever who is into academics, music (Myles Davis), and basketball. Caroline's defenses are aroused when he reveals he actually chose her as his partner to see what she was like, as she is not the type to accept pity or even empathy from others. It is perhaps their common love of music, or more probably his flaws—namely his love of Pop Tarts and the truly pathetic looking poster board he has put together for their project—that enables her to relax enough to get down to work on the project. The project they have been assigned is an examination of the changing meaning behind the use of the words "I" and "You" within the work of Walt Whitman's poem "Song of Myself" from his famous "Leaves of Grass." In passages such as, "I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love. If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles," Whitman speaks of the ways in which we are all part of a timeless whole that is interconnected. The two teenagers discover each other in the process of examining what Whitman was trying to say. In the end they both experience what is at the heart of this poem in a way that is most unexpected. Gunderson's writing is savvy and quick witted; and Gracie Winchester as Caroline and Terry Guest as Anthony really get this script. Their timing and their feel for the characters are right on the money. They handle the language and the emotions of teenagers with enormous clarity. The evolving tensions that come with the hurried establishment of a relationship are conveyed beautifully. They have an ease of chemistry between them, and their pacing and energy flows smoothly throughout the one act play. Director Louis Terrell has sculpted the play wisely. Though it delves into the literary world of poetry, it's about the two characters, not Walt Whitman. Tyrrell manages to honor the poet and believably present what he would mean to modern day teenage minds. There is no coyness or condescension within their portrayals. The result is something eloquent in its simplicity. This production is a wonderful marriage of the right script with the right director and the right actors. The other works of playwright Lauren Gunderson include Bauer, Silent Sky, Exit, Pursued By A Bear, Toil and Trouble, and the musical The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful and Her Dog!. Her work has received national praise and awards including being a Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award finalist, a Susan Smith Blackburn finalist, a Jane Chambers Award finalist, and winner of the Berrilla Kerr Award for American Theatre, Global Age Project, Young Playwright's Award, Eric Bentley New Play Award and Essential Theatre Prize. Gunderson is a Playwright in Resident at The Playwrights Foundation, a Dramatists Guild member, and was a member of Just Theatre's New Play Lab. She writes for The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, tweets @LalaTellsAStory, and curates www.HowToPlaywright.com. I and You will be appearing at the Arts Garage through February 8, 2015. The Arts Garage is located at 180 N.E. First St. in Delray Beach. Tickets for this production are $30 to $45. To purchase tickets to this show, or for more information on the Arts Garage, you may call 561/450-6357 or visit www.artsgarage.org. Cast: Crew: *Indicates a member of Actors Equity Association, the Professional Union for Actors and Stage Managers in the United States. **Indicates a member of United Scenic Artists.
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