Speech and Debate

Last night David and I saw a quixotic, funny, sad play about three teenagers and their struggles with loneliness. Speech and Debate, by Stephen Karam, was at Barrington Stage 2.

  Betsy Hogg

The girl, Diwata, pregnant from a rape, was played by Betsy Hogg. She is determined to start a Debate Club at the school but, at the moment, is unable to interest anyone else in joining.

  Austin Davidson

Howie, played by Austin Davidson, is a closet gay trying to become a writer by dealing with subjects like abortion and the town's sexually predatory Mayor.


                                                                 
 




Ben Getz

Solomon was played by Ben Getz and is a gay young man who has gone on the Internet to try to make sexual contacts, including, it turns out, a teacher at their high school.
   Edlen McWilliams

Edlen McWilliams plays both the teacher and a reporter.

In this complicated plot the three students talk, fight, make up, reveal their troubled lives, using a lot of humor to do this.

Diwata, for instance, is trying to make a musical out of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. She was turned down for the lead in Once Upon a Mattress because of lack of talent.

In the end the three of them form a sort of alliance and seem ready to go on with their lives.

The play was directed by Jessica Holt and the interesting set was designed by Reid Thompson. It made for an interesting and delightful evening.