Jailbait
nytheatre.com review by Joshua Chase Gold
March 25, 2009
"We're fifteen. Everything fun is illegal." So begins Deirdre O'Connor's new play, Jailbait, which marks the opening of Cherry Lane Theatre's newest space, The Cherry Pit (formerly the Bank Street Theatre). And boy, do they hit a home run.
Jailbait tells the story of two 15-year-old girls, Emmy and Claire, who decide to dress up, paint themselves with expensive makeup, and sneak into a 21-and-up club in downtown Boston. At the club Emmy meets her club-fling-boy from the previous week, Mark. Mark brings along his recently single friend Robert for Claire to meet, hoping for sparks on their end as well. Oh, and the boys are actually in their 30s—a scenario surely capable of making Chris Hansen and his MSNBC producers at To Catch a Predator drool! But what ensues, without giving too much away, is not a story of perverted men who prey on young girls, but instead one of girls who desperately want to grow up and men who are severely afraid of aging.
Director Suzanna Agins does a fantastic job of telling the story simply. Along with scenic designer Kina Park, lighting designer Pat Dignan and sound designer Daniel Kluger, Agins avoids being too clever. Instead she guides her actors to genuine connections with each other and revelatory discoveries within themselves. What could easily become melodramatic is light and comic, allowing the poignant moments to hit home.
Wrenn Schmidt, who deliciously plays Emmy, functions as the ring-leader of the girls, pushing Claire further and further out of her comfort zone. Schmidt's portrayal of a girl who thinks she knows what she wants, until she gets it, is funny and sad. The less experienced Claire, played with the utmost grace by Natalia Payne is reason enough to see the show. Payne endears herself to the audience, displaying the restraint of an actress well beyond her years. Her charm and subtlety remind us what it feels like to be 15. Kelly AuCoin does a superb job as Robert, Claire's love interest. He is down without being pathetic, charming without being obnoxious, and furious without being melodramatic. In other words, AuCoin consistently makes smart and interesting character choices, never once missing the mark. The chemistry between AuCoin and Payne can only be described as adorable. Their respective commitment to their roles and each other make for a stunning connection. Peter O'Connor plays Robert's sleazy friend, Mark, who has a one-track-mind concerned only with sleeping with Emmy. His performance is clean and witty.
Scenic designer Kina Park must be credited with her incredibly inventive way of utilizing the space. Not only do beds, toilets, condom machines, and couches appear out of nowhere, but the color palette and incorporated lighting consistently juxtapose the world of the teenage girls and the adult world they so desperately want to be a part of.
Deirdre O'Connor has given us a show that is at once funny, entertaining, intellectual, endearing, and at times heartbreaking. With a script that is spot-on, a director who has crafted a simple piece of human truth, and a cast with impeccable commitment, Jailbait proves to be one of the most enjoyable things I've seen in a long time. Go see it!
