When “Ugly Playground Accidents,” enjoying on the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Avenue) via December 28, begins, an harmless, youthful vitality emanates from the 2 actors on the stage. Kara Younger’s Kaylene is pleasant, curious, and adventurous, regardless that coping with her private demons. Nicholas Braun is humorous, a daredevil, and accident-prone as Doug. These characters meet within the nurse’s workplace at their Catholic highschool.
Our first encounter with these characters is participating, humorous, and a bit gross, as Doug offers with a head damage he obtained after a really harmful motion. Because the story — very poignantly written by Rajiv Joseph — strikes alongside, we see how these two younger folks develop a relationship as greatest associates. We see their interactions in hospital rooms as Doug repeatedly will get harm by purposely performing harmful actions, and we witness Kaylene’s self-harming habits. Whereas these two weak characters latch onto one another, it’s just like the blind main the blind. On this case, their dysfunction appears to uniquely bind them.
We transfer ahead on Kaylene and Doug’s journey and in addition in flashback scenes, through which we be taught extra troubling points that these characters are dealing with. Kaylene’s psychological well being points have constructed up as a consequence of her dysfunctional dwelling life — she and her father have been deserted by her mom, and her father by no means felt she would quantity to something. As a lot as Doug desires to guard his pal, he can’t. He has his personal problems with self-harm that he’s coping with, though his dwelling life appears stabler than Kaylene’s. Their relationship is sophisticated.
It is extremely fascinating to observe as these weak characters undergo near-death experiences — particularly Doug — and transfer out and in of one another’s lives. The chemistry between Younger and Braun is charming to behold. Components of this drama could have you in tears — I heard folks round me crying throughout numerous essential moments.
Younger clearly demonstrates her versatility as an actress, as she effortlessly inhabits every stage of her character Kaylene, from the curious highschool pupil to the grownup acknowledging rising up in a troubled family, feeling deserted at vital factors in her life, and repeatedly working towards self-harm. Braun’s character at first appears to be only a daredevil who doesn’t see his actions as something apart from courageous. As he grows older, he continues to place himself in harmful conditions, whereas seeming to consider that Kaylene has an influence the place she will be able to heal his wounds by merely touching him. That is an fascinating perception … to a degree.
This play demonstrates how sophisticated folks’s friendships will be, particularly when there are elements of their lives that they really feel are out of their management. It begs the questions of what are the elements that may lead an individual to self-harm, and when does a friendship change right into a considerably poisonous relationship?
There is a component of vulnerability that the actors share, as they alter their garments in view of the viewers at any time when the scene is altering. There’s one thing very touching about that. These actors ship fairly layered performances that go away you feeling you may have skilled a really particular play.
The manufacturing has scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Sarah Laux, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design and authentic music by David Van Tieghem, and make-up design by Brian Strumwasser.
For ticket data, go to lortel.org.
