War

By Dennis Foon

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

Thursday, February 9, 2012

10:00 AM & Noon

Aronoff Center, Jarson-Kaplan Theater

This brilliant and powerful play examines how aggression and violence permeates youth culture. The play explores how four young men struggle with the pressures of competitiveness, anger, and vulnerability. Dennis Foon, one of Canada’s leading young-adult playwrights, interviewed teens, social workers, and violent offenders to write this drama about how boys use war as a metaphor for their lives – on the street, in school, in sports, and in their relationships with the opposite sex. As in his brilliant play, New Kid, the playwright uses invented language – in this case to stand in for harsh slang – to create a poetic and theatrical experience. The performance will be followed by a facilitated talkback to help students articulate and respond to the issues of the play.

Price per seat: $6.50

Program Length: 60 minutes

Recommended Grades: 6-12*

Sign Language Interpretation: Noon

*Please note that this play deals with some mature issues, including teen violence and sexuality in a realistic manner. If it were a film, it would receive a strong PG-13 rating.