No More Toys follows Todd, a local college recruiter, who, after a successful presentation, returns to a high school classroom to retrieve his forgotten baseball cap. Upon his arrival, Todd realizes that something is off – and doesn’t take the hint to leave and suddenly finds himself held hostage by a disgruntled student in the room.
No More Toys
Audience
LemonMeter
Reviews: 3
Reviews
In the context of an all too familiar classroom gun hostage scenario, we are thrust into a jarring reality check of what it's like being a teen in urban America. Though you may initially root for the obvious protagonist(s), the deeper reflection is do you demonize or humanize the "apparent antagonist"? Luis REALLY had a great mix of visceral anger, anguish and neurotic sinister mental gymnastics in his performance. I wanted to punch him and pray for him at the same time. I appreciated the diversity in casting as well as the diversity in characters and subplots. Every character certainly held their own.
What I liked
Within the first couple minutes after the lights come on and the teacher (played by playwright Pierce Manor) walks in the room, the action begins and never lets down. I like the alternate endings to show how a tragedy can be solved with compassion and lending an ear to a troubled teenager who takes things too far.
What I didn't like
That damned gun!!! It’s frightening to know that this scene unfolds in our schools way too often.
My overall impression
The whole cast did a great job, particularly Luis García whose intensity keeps everybody in the audience at the edge of our seats. Really intense and real. I need to recoup and remind myself that this was just a play
The story is unfortunately a very familiar scenario in our current culture, and this play took a nuanced compassionate look at this problem. I feel that a faction of liberals in recent times has forgotten that compassion is supposed to be one of our core values. This show reminds us what can happen, and the difference that can be made, when we attack with compassion. Pierce Minor delivers a superb, understated performance and the supporting cast delivers top notch work. Special kudos to the actors playing hostages for remaining in character and always being interesting without ever pulling focus. That is not as easy as it sounds and they were all excellent.
Well executed, tense thriller that doesn’t go exactly where you think it’s going to go.
In the context of an all too familiar classroom gun hostage scenario, we are thrust into a jarring reality check of what it's like being a teen in urban America. Though you may initially root for the obvious protagonist(s), the deeper reflection is do you demonize or humanize the "apparent antagonist"? Luis REALLY had a great mix of visceral anger, anguish and neurotic sinister mental gymnastics in his performance. I wanted to punch him and pray for him at the same time. I appreciated the diversity in casting as well as the diversity in characters and subplots. Every character certainly held their own.
What I liked
Within the first couple minutes after the lights come on and the teacher (played by playwright Pierce Manor) walks in the room, the action begins and never lets down. I like the alternate endings to show how a tragedy can be solved with compassion and lending an ear to a troubled teenager who takes things too far.
What I didn't like
That damned gun!!! It’s frightening to know that this scene unfolds in our schools way too often.
My overall impression
The whole cast did a great job, particularly Luis García whose intensity keeps everybody in the audience at the edge of our seats. Really intense and real. I need to recoup and remind myself that this was just a play
The story is unfortunately a very familiar scenario in our current culture, and this play took a nuanced compassionate look at this problem. I feel that a faction of liberals in recent times has forgotten that compassion is supposed to be one of our core values. This show reminds us what can happen, and the difference that can be made, when we attack with compassion. Pierce Minor delivers a superb, understated performance and the supporting cast delivers top notch work. Special kudos to the actors playing hostages for remaining in character and always being interesting without ever pulling focus. That is not as easy as it sounds and they were all excellent.
Well executed, tense thriller that doesn’t go exactly where you think it’s going to go.