Brace yourself, New York. It’s the middle of August which means Fringe NYC has taken over our precious city. A great time to be a theater lover, this annual producer’s extravaganza is ripe with the up-and-coming talent that will dominate the scene for years to come in our city and beyond. Some productions come ready. Impressing everyone. Making sure the next step is already taken by the time the curtain closes. Others find themselves in a position in which this will be the farthest they will go. Over hundred of shows, some will make it, some will make their talent, and some will sadly fail. “The Boys Are Angry” by Jillie Mae Eddy is more of the former, impressing with the talent, but the product itself not quite reaching the level their talents do.
This dramatic exploration of what it is to be a man in today’s society starts with an explosive monologue in which meninist blogger AJ (Xander Johnson) puts women to task for ruining manhood. His character is abrasive, obnoxious, an amalgam of every man stereotype put together in a smart package. His counterpart is Quinn (Nate Houran), a shy guy who seems to be the complete opposite of AJ. Their friendship could only have started in childhood, because when we met them they couldn’t be more different. In the middle of this duo is the girl of Quinn’s dreams, who is played by the playwright herself, Jillie Mae Eddy. These three actors put on powerful work on stage even when they are giving too much to go around.
The play itself took some time to warm up and get us involved. Despite the curtain opener, the production doesn’t get out of first gear until the introduction of The Girl. At first an idea, the whimsical way in which Eddy plays her and the interaction she has with the boys is the highlight of this show. This is where the play goes in depth with the theme, finds the anger, and turns it around. The choreography by Sammi Katz in these scenes creates the wonder and the beauty that only women posses and perfectly translates the two characters at their core. By the time The Girl goes from idea to reality, we are eagerly awaiting for the outcome. Will AJ become a better man? Will Quinn stand up to AJ?
The questions are answers, but the play becomes overstuffed with ideas that somehow need to be explained. The play suddenly turns into a study of the fragile psyche of weak men against their alpha counterparts and the contrast that comes from their animalistic instincts. Their fury and their refusal to give power, even when they think of themselves as being right. About the lies we tell ourselves to carry on, and the consequences of denying the truth. By the time the last moment happens and the lights fade out, I felt like I saw it become three different productions in the last fifteen minutes. Not to say that Director Sam Plattus didn’t manage to pull this whole web of topics together; his work was one that shows huge potential, but at the end, the script gave him too much to get home. It got close, but the anti-climatic ending and change of tone created a more judgmental work than it hoped to be, hindering the message that it was trying to convey.
“The Boys Are Angry” is a great example of what a Fringe Show is: daring, full of ideas, great talent, and the venue to make the magic happen. And while I feel the the show peaked early, the production is by no means one to miss. At the very least it will give you something to talk about. At most, it will get to you and make you realize what kind of person you are. Go find out by yourself how it makes you feel. “The Boys Are Angry” is waiting for you at The Player’s Theater (115 MacDougal Street) till August 28. SUPPORT NEW WORK!
Out of 4 stars:
Twisted Talk: Have Fringe shows have you seen so far? What did you think of “The Boys Are Angry?”
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