David Howard

12:30-2pm
PLAY CRITIQUE THIS IS OUR YOUTH
This paper analyses a production of This is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan. The play is
extremely relatable to any generation that has been called "Fuck ups" by their parents, teachers,
etc. It contains extremely realistic dialogue between three (two males most of the play) teenagers
during the Reagan era which presents themes of growing up, apathetic youth, drug addiction, and
friendship.
Throughout the play our main focus is on the friendship between Dennis and Warren we see
them smoke weed, argue, wrestle, watch tv, and hangout. Throughout the play Adonis Banuelos
portrayal of Warren stuck out to me the most. The moment he entered the stage you could tell
his relationship with Dennis and even though they were friends you can instantly see that he
viewed Dennis as an older brother. One specific moment we see this come out is after he stands
up for himself for the first time and asks Dennis why he treats him badly and states that he view
him as a personal hero. It is during this moment we see Warren stand up and speak his mind for
the first time to Dennis. Throughout the play you see him as someone who bows down and does
almost anything Dennis says but in this scene he stands firm and holds his ground. The way
Adonis acted this pivotal scene pushed me as a viewer to care about his character even more than
he already has.
When Warren stands firm for the first time it causes a huge shift and his and Denniss
relationship. Usually the strong one Dennis becomes week and vulnerable, especially at the
moment when Warren calls him his personal hero. It is at this moment you see for the first time
the impact and importance Warren has on his life as he shows it, and perhaps for the first time

realizes it himself. This causes Dennis to make a promise to change his ways and give up on
everything that has caused this huge mess. What is interesting is the play closes with Warren and
Dennis in almost the same way they started with no clue what to and smoking weed.
Throughout the play Adonis uses his voice in a way that reminds you of a nagging little brother.
He breathes life into the character Warren as a nerdy innocent teenager who you cant help to fall
in love with, but you also can see how he can be annoying and nagging at times. The way he
delivers lines full of innocence and truth caused the audience to verbal aww at his cute innocent
nature.
The way he moved around the space also caused myself and the audience to fall and love with
Warren and care what happens to him. He kicked around staring at the ground awkwardly,
almost always smiling or grinning, and was full of energy you could tell he could almost burst
anytime he sat down. Adonis gave Warren energetic youthful movements that help further the
character and plot tremendously
Costume choices for the production is not something that comes to mind when you see the
production, however it was executed beautifully. Warren dressed like what you would expect a
rebellious teenager would. If you saw him walking down the street you probably would judge
him as a rebel pot smoking teenager. The production design also was well executed, it
transported us from a stage to a Regan era bachelor pad. The room was filled with trash, records,
condoms, dirty clothes, bags of weed, everything you would find and more in a real room.
This is Our Youth is a show that is extremely relatable to everyone who has ever been a teenage
no matter what generation. It shows that every generation has its fuck ups and issues but dont
judge a book by its cover. The characters in the play are at surface drug and sex obsessed

teenagers but as the play goes on you discover they are actually very intelligent and could go on
to be very productive members of society. Only if the people around them would believe in them
and push them in right direction.