Twenty Something Theatre
Us & Everything We Own by Sean Minogue

Dates and Venue 4 - 13 April 2013 | PAL Studio Theatre

Reviewer Ed Farolan

Minogue paints a picture of what the youth is going through today. In his own words he says, "I wanted to craft something about a couple growing apart, anchoring the characters’ conflict in Vancouver, where opportunity—in career development, industry, housing—seems finite".How true this is.

Predictions were made that when the baby boomers would retire, opportunities for the young would blossom. But this prediction was wrong. There is in fact more unemployment among the youth today. And this isn't just Vancouver and Canada, but the the whole world.

Minogue plants this dilemma and there's a big question mark as the play ends. This is a disturbing play meant for the youth of today, especially here in Vancouver, where if you're poor, your opportunities are less. And even when you want to be independent, you can't. You still have to rely on rich parents, as in the case of Rachel (Julie McIsaac) who wants to cut loose from her rich parents, but in the end, can't, and ends up accepting to live in the condo her parents bought for her.

Simon (Jason Clift), Rachel's younger brother, tries to help his brother-in-law Charlie (Adam Lolacher) but his efforts are futile. Erin (Genevieve Fleming) who tries to get Simon who is smitten by her to invest in a business also fails.

These young actors who are graduates of Studio 58 and other Performing arts schools did a good job in their acting and especially their delivery of lines, and the intimate theatre at PAL was a perfect venue for this play which was well-directed by the company's artistic director, Sabrina Evertt. Kudos also to set designer Craig Alfredson for his set, and to the other members of the production staff.

© 2013 Ed Farolan