The Outsiders
at The New School of Northern Virginia

Reviewed on March 18, 2017

Emily Swett
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

A laid-back teenage boy in beat up jeans and a loose t-shirt stares into a blinding sunrise and recites the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost. He doesn't understand it yet, but through gang violence and impulsive heroism, he soon will. In an intimate black box theater, The New School of Northern Virginia was captivating in their dedicated performance of "The Outsiders".

Based on the classic 1967 book by S. E. Hinton and adapted by Christopher Sergel, "The Outsiders" tells the story of the intelligent 14-year-old orphan Ponyboy and his group the "Greasers", the downtown kids whose rivalry with rich-kid group the "Socials", or the "Socs", takes a dramatic turn when Ponyboy's friend Johnny accidentally kills a Soc.

Playing the All-American hero Ponyboy was Harry Sheikerz, leading the audience through his memories with casual confidence and ease. Sheikerz's performance was spot on and his relationships with other characters were engaging. His friendship with fellow Greaser Johnny (Joe Neff) was particularly moving. After being viciously attacked by Socs, Johnny suffers from severe anxiety and must also deal with a neglectful family. Stuttering often and jumping at violent memories, Neff's total commitment to his character was impressive. Neff's nervous performance with bursts of courage made his character endearing and the tragedies in his life even more heart-wrenching.

The Greasers formed a boisterous but close-knit group with complex dynamics, showing the unique relationships between every character. Two Bits (Celia Martyn), a rowdy and goofy Greaser, demanded attention anytime she was onstage, making the audience laugh from her antics and cry from her pain. Often joking with her was Dallas (Sam Howard), a leader of the Greasers and Johnny's personal hero. Ponyboy's older sister, Darry (Maggie Duncan) demonstrated her tough love through scolding and high expectations, growing closer to Ponyboy through adversity.

Bob's (Theo Testa) death taught the Greasers that they weren't all that different from the Socs. Testa's convincing drunken rage was only one facet of him, and his death broke the hearts of many, including his sweet girlfriend Cherry (Annie Kraemer) and understanding friend Randy (Jimmy Stluka). The ensemble on both sides performed a dramatized final "rumble" with clean fight choreography and dedication, creating chaos and panic onstage.

A neutral-toned minimalist set was effective in the cozy black box, and was highlighted by excellent student-designed lighting which smoothly transitioning from scene to scene and helped clearly define the setting. The lighting also aided the audience in visualizing surrounding events whether it was a golden sunrise or the flames from a burning church. Realistic heartbeats and car sound effects heightened emotional moments and added suspense, and a final recorded letter from Johnny finished the show tenderly.

The New School of Northern Virginia provided poignancy in their commendable performance of "The Outsiders", reminding us all to stay passionate, to work hard, and to stay golden.

Lydia Gompper
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Privilege: some have it, some don't, and the sparring between the haves and the have-nots is as old as humanity itself. In the New School of Northern Virginia's production of "The Outsiders," the escalation of class warfare leaves both the characters and the audience with a new sense of understanding: it is the individual that matters.

Published in 1990 as a stage adaptation of S. E. Hinton's iconic 1967 novel, "The Outsiders" depicts the fraught relationship between two rival youth groups in 1960s Oklahoma: the working-class Greasers and the well-to-do Socs. Told from the perspective of the intelligent, 14-year-old Greaser Ponyboy, the story follows him and his best friend Johnny as they flee home after a deadly altercation with a young Soc. Touching on such themes as the pervasiveness of inter-class resentment and the importance of youth, the tale is eternally relevant, still connecting with readers and audience members a full half-century after Hinton first put it on paper.

The New School of Northern Virginia has delivered a striking, tear-worthy production of "The Outsiders." The performers dealt with the story's thematic depth with a maturity beyond their years, portraying serious topics like early death and socioeconomic inequality with realism and poignancy.

Taking on the demanding role of Ponyboy himself, junior Harry Sheikerz offered a performance laced with both the innocence of a young boy and the fire of a burgeoning adult faced with injustice. He successfully handled his position as the show's narrator, executing his many lengthy monologues with captivating skill and confidence. Sheikerz also maintained a stirring brotherly chemistry with Joe Neff, who portrayed Ponyboy's timid best friend Johnny. Neff himself, meanwhile, gave one of the most emotionally resonant performances of the night, imbuing his character with the perfect balance of anxiety and courageousness. He utilized his body to its fullest extent, trembling in fear in the face of a Soc attack or struggling against his own legs after his paralyzing accident in the second act.

As a widely group-driven production, the show also boasted several memorable supporting performances. Junior Annie Kraemer gave a touchingly melancholy portrayal of Cherry, a Soc whose boyfriend Bob (Theo Testa) is killed after a drunken attack on Ponyboy and Johnny. Her soft voice and poised demeanor formed a welcome contrast to the play's otherwise harsh atmosphere. Sam Howard, meanwhile, delivered a nuanced, heart-wrenching interpretation of Dallas, the roughest of the Greasers. He particularly wowed in the second act, when his character's usual cocky, streetwise persona fell away in the wake of Johnny's death. His portrayal of grief was breathtakingly sophisticated. Finally, the production was offered a refreshing dash of comic relief by senior Celia Martyn, who played the flirtatious, wise-cracking Greaser Two-Bit. Martyn's constant skirt-chasing swagger was delightfully engaging.

The production also found considerable success in its technical elements. Lighting designer Jonathan Rushbrook added an ethereal beauty to the show, particularly during moments when Ponyboy stepped out of the action to directly address the audience. Rushbrook's designs perfectly accentuated the tone of each scene, from the flickering red of the flames during the church fire of the second act to the simple halo around Johnny as he lay in the hospital afterward. Meanwhile, Caedmon Cooper, James Dombroski, and Isabella Chevez skillfully executed a variety of well-timed, thoughtful sound effects throughout the show. The constant thud of the heartbeat effect during the hospital scenes was notably chilling.

The students of the New School of Northern Virginia have created a deeply satisfying, emotionally cathartic production of "The Outsiders." As Ponyboy takes his first steps into adulthood, the audience is left with one thought: "Stay gold."

Julia Luigs
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

When the way things used to be is gold, how do you combat the struggles of growing old? The answer isn't easily found, but The New School of Northern Virginia's production of "The Outsiders" certainly stakes a claim to it. Their production excellently portrayed the themes of growing older and wiser, with outstanding use of space, sound, and combat.

Based on the acclaimed novel by S.E. Hinton, "The Outsiders" tells the story of Ponyboy, a brainy teen from the wrong side of town. The show takes place over the course of about a week, where Ponyboy weaves a narrative of how a fight between his gang- the "Greasers"- and their rivals- the "Soc's"- changed his life for good. The novel was adapted to stage by Christopher Sergel, and is often performed by high school companies, since the message is directed at those in their teens.

As the young and intelligent Ponyboy, Harry Sheikerz developed the fully fledged character of a young boy struggling with the stress of schoolwork and expectations, as well as violence and the harm that comes to his friends. Sheikerz's control of the narrative was exemplified in his soliloquies to the audience, where he explained exactly what each moment meant to him.

Throughout the show, Ponyboy relied on his fellow "Greasers" and they always had his back. As the wisecracking, carjacking Two-Bit, Celia Martyn provided excellent comic relief whenever the show felt a bit too tense, ready with a smirk and a witty remark. In fact, all of Martyn's facial expressions were perfectly timed with the scenes around her. Johnny, played by Joe Neff, was the opposite of Martyn in mannerisms, but her equal in presence. Neff's nervous ticks and characteristic stammering helped to portray a young man on the verge of a breakdown.

Bob, played by Theo Testa, demonstrated how the other half lives as a menacing "Soc" who just wanted someone to tell him "no." And as Ponyboy's controlling older sibling, Darry, Maggie Duncan added complexity to the role, dominating the scene when necessary, and straying from the limelight when not. As a whole, the "Greaser" family- biological or not- was endearing to watch, with all the characters playing off each other to create an authentic family dynamic.

Tech for the show was simple and helped heighten the emotion throughout. The sound was transporting, with convincing sound effects for the realistic scenes- like cars pulling up and intercom noises- and symbolic noises for the ones with a more dreamlike quality, such as the music during an intense fight scene, or an audible heartbeat that added tension to a grave scene at a hospital. The lighting made excellent use of the intimate setting, and the versatile set lent itself to a multitude of scenes.

A compelling story, backed by accomplished tech and superb acting, The New School's production of "The Outsiders" is a call to all those lost in adolescence- "You are not alone."

Meghan Murphy
George Mason High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Rich versus poor. Ruffians versus aristocrats. Switchblades versus fists. Two rival gangs, the Socs and Greasers, came together to finally settle their rights to a small town turf on March 18th in The New School's production of the Outsiders.

Penned by S.E. Hinton when she was just a junior in high school, the Outsiders was published in 1967 and has since become a staple in underclassmen English courses. The coming-of-age novel tells the story of adolescents having to navigate the perils of 1960's suburban street violence as well as tough lives at home centers and centers on 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers and friends in the Greasers gang. This cult classic was made into a film in 1989, and Christopher Sergel's stage adaptation was published in 1990.

The cast stunned their audience with the heart-wrenching telling of this beloved story. Though living in a much different setting than that of gang warfare stricken streets of the Outsiders, the cast handled the maturity and weight of the show with relatability and innocence.

The success of the show centered on the beautiful portrayals of Ponyboy and Johnny (Harry Sheikerz and Joe Neff). Sheikerz perfectly captured the turmoil and isolation of Ponyboy, while his smiles and kind demeanor on stage enticed audience members to fall in love with the joyful side of the innocent 14-year-old. His interaction with the viewers through narration and monologue was an unparalleled success since he used the New School's black box theater as an opportunity to get up close and personal with the audience to intimately share Ponyboy's life story. Neff exposed the anxiousness and insecurity of Johnny through constant shaking and tremors in his voice, and the command Neff had over his character through line delivery and motion brought Johnny's tragic dramatic arc to center stage. His authentic death, where he choked out the famous last words "Stay gold, Ponyboy", made the tears in the completely focused eyes of the viewers finally spill.

Other onstage standouts included Sam Howard, whose tough, cold, and mean representation of Dallas, the most violent Greaser, was evolved on stage to produce a character audiences could emphasize with. Each time Howard stepped on stage, he ensured that Dallas had matured and softened a bit more, thus he took on an original interpretation of Dallas. Annie Kraemer's portrayal as the Soc rich girl named Cherry brought not only purity and determination but a sadness that represented the hardships of the Socs. Finally, the gender swap of Darry (Maggie Duncan) and Two-Bit (Celia Martyn) from males in the book to females in this production was creative and brought pleasant uniqueness to a classic story.

Though the black box theater is on the small side, the New School crew used a simple and versatile set to represent a house, movie theater, church, parking lot, roads, and a hospital with very few set changes. The effective lighting designed by Jonathan Rushbrook, which allowed for quick and realistic scene changes, came to a climax when paired with sound to showcase a fire in a church using only one wall of the theater. The red and orange lights and growl of flames were executed perfectly by tech. Furthermore, the sound crew (Caedmon Cooper, James Dombroski, and Isabella Chevez) made scenes without elaborate sets, like the hospital, come to life.

The New School delivered an emotional and poignant rendition of The Outsiders, with the remarkable cast and crew telling the story of being outcast as well as welcomed, of violence and love, of death and the discovery of what it means to live.

Kristen Waagner
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

"Dawn goes down to day, nothing gold can stay." Frost's words ring true in "The Outsiders," where a brief moment of gold is found in a young boy, who brings out the best in those around him. Set against the backdrop of teenage gang violence, The New School's rendition of Ponyboy's story shows that there is a bit of gold in everyone.

"The Outsiders," adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel, deals with themes of social inequality, isolation, innocence, and family. The story is told from the perspective of 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, as he documents the brutal rivalry between his gang, the Greasers, and the upper-class Socials. Ponyboy is forced to grow up quickly when he is attacked by a group of Socials, permanently altering his life. Written by S.E. Hinton when she was a junior in high school, "The Outsiders" remains relevant and moving even as it approaches its 50th anniversary of publication.

Harry Sheikerz gave the show's unusually bright narrator Ponyboy a unique likability, tying the story together with commanding narration. His believable relationships with family and fellow Greasers added depth to Ponyboy, transforming the character into the intelligent and nuanced hero that the audience knew and loved. Ponyboy's siblings, motherly Darry and kindhearted Sodapop, were played by Maggie Duncan and Chase Kidder respectively. The trio had a sweet family dynamic as they dealt with the hardships accompanying their dysfunctional lifestyle.

The Greaser gang, while outwardly intimidating, also excelled at creating multifaceted and distinctive characters. Joe Neff, as Ponyboy's sensitive best friend Johnny, remained engaged and honest throughout his character's dramatic arc. The emotion behind his voice added authenticity to the performance. Two-Bit (Celia Martyn) provided comic relief with her outstanding stage presence as she attempted to woo a pair of Social girls. Her interpretation of a traditionally male character was both true to the author's intention and interesting to watch. The Greasers were given their time in the spotlight during the rumble, in which exceptional fight choreography resulted in an intense victory for the lower class gang. Members of the Social gang also stood out for their commitment to their characters, especially Bob (Theo Testa) and Cherry (Annie Kraemer). Kraemer used her gentle voice to elicit sympathy from the audience and to gain the friendship and trust of Ponyboy, balancing out the rowdy tone of the other actors.

Technical elements of "The Outsiders" made the most of the intimate black box theatre. A versatile set was rounded out by detailed decoration, transforming the space from a local house, to a drive-in theatre, to an abandoned church. Lighting was marked by precise transitions, and effectively captured the effect of a rising sun and flickering fire. Sound effects, including original recordings, were meticulously placed so as not to distract from the play, and added a great sense of time and place. Each of these aspects added to the overall quality of retrospection, giving the viewer the sense that the story is being told through Ponyboy's memory.

The New School's production of "The Outsiders" brings S.E. Hinton's coming-of-age classic to life in its most intense and heartwarming moments.