The Wolves--Superbly Written and Incredibly Well Acted

By Joseph Cervelli

Like surfing  on a huge wave they almost crash onto floor which acts as the stage of  The Duke Theater where the thunderously good new play by Sarah DeLappe has returned for a short visit until the end of December. This funny and ultimately sadly powerful work brilliantly acted captures the world of young high school girls on a winning soccer team so honestly that it could easily be playing around the country. 

I have to admit that when the play first began I was a bit concerned. No one is addressed by their names--you have their numbers to know them by--and the dialogue becomes overlapping for about a good 20 or so minutes which is off putting. Talk ranges from their having their periods to the Khmer Rouge (jokingly mispronounced) to boys. But that dissipates and the identity of each character comes clearly out. 

It is amazing that DeLappe has such a naturalistic feel for the way young people speak. And right on target is the invigorating direction by Lila Neugebauer who has the girls going through various warm up exercises while having conversations with each other.  Some are emotionally stronger than others while #00 (Lizzy Jutila)  gets so worked up in the game  she needs to run off the field to vomit frequently. And her solo moment near the end is simply electric in its intensity. Each of the girls is unique in her own way which is the way you would expect things to be. And never for a moment does any of the dialogue feel forced or even rehearsed for that matter. 

They joke about the new coach who to the girls always drunk and would rather have back the previous one who had to leave because his wife is quite ill. As worldly as the girls think they are they are still immature,  especially when one expresses her hopes that when his wife dies he can return to coaching.  

#14 (Samia Finnerty) is Armenian while the others always thought she was Mexican which leads to some humorous moments.  They have no idea where that country is nor anything about the history of it. The interaction between her and her sassy, foul mouthed friend #7  (Brenda Coates) which seems fine has an undercurrent of anger that becomes explosive when something is later revealed. 

The Captain #25 (Lauren Patten) has the fortitude to keep the girls in order which is not an easy feat. When she does something startling at the end of the show that has some of her team members laughing they don't’ quite understand her motive. Yet, it is clear to her that after what eventually occurs she needs to be herself for life is very uncertain even for someone her age. 

Something more startling occurs out of nowhere, and while I will not divulge any of that let me say it is incredibly moving. Watch the incomparable array of actors  (it is truly ensemble acting) sitting on the Astroturf listening to an adult who appears in the last scenes. Without one word you know how each one feels as you gaze from one young lady to the next. A few are fidgety, one has a kind of  nervous smile, while others are trying to remain stoic. Exactly the type of reactions what you would expect from someone their age. 

This frequently humorous but always intense new play left me wanting more from a razor sharp playwright who writes dialogue that feels so very real. Too often that is sadly lacking in the theater. 

Produced by The Playwrights Realm tickets are available at the Duke on 42nd, 229 West 42nd Street or by calling 646.223.3010. As of this date the show ends it run on December 24. 

PHOTO: DANIEL J. VASQUEZ