New Plays from A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory, Vol. 2 (Young Actors Series)
Gr 10 Up--One of the problems with play collections for YAs is that most of them seem to go for universality and longevity and have little relevance to the kids who are asked to perform them. This compilation of four plays contains new works commissioned to reflect a "young point of view." After the first draft, the play is developed in rehearsal and the input of the actors is given serious consideration. The vigor and immediacy of the selections attests to the validity of the method. Mature in subject matter and language, these are not namby-pamby exercises, but thought-provoking material for today's teens. They are of varying quality, but even the weakest dramatically, a series of vignettes about high-school life, contains moments of touching reality. The strongest, a heartbreaker by Paul Zindel in which four materially indulged siblings are abandoned by their parents, has the shortest shelf life. It seethes with brand names, rock stars, tabloid headlines, and other modern-culture references that make it a play for today. The other two refer to the recent past. In one, a young Mexican-American attempts to fit into his mother's Mexican village. The other, strong scenes from American school life in the 60s, evokes emerging social issues without resorting to cliche. All will have meaning for today's young actors and avoid the stagnancy of so many play collections now moldering on your shelves.Sally Margolis, formerly at Deerfield Public Library, ILCopyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.