Written as a series of poems that pulse with sensation and narrative momentum, Long Way Down is propelled by Will’s grief over the shooting death of his older brother, Shawn, and his determination to follow the rule of revenge: Now having read it, inspired by this performance, I can see why. The book by Jason Reynolds was a New York Times best-seller, boasts a host of awards, and was a National Book Award finalist. Justin Weaks as Will in ‘Long Way Down.’ Photo by Yassine El Mansouri. And Weaks holds this whole intergenerational audience in the palms of his hands. Yet here in Kennedy Center’s Family Theater there are young people, lots of them, accompanied by their parents, young readers, many clutching their copy of the book, mostly boys. Long Way Down in all its qualities is a one-act drama so good that grownup theatergoers could easily make it a hit. The other characters he evokes are vibrant and distinct the poetic language he speaks is ablaze, as vivid as any I’ve heard on stage. The story he tells is gripping, its content almost too unsettling for young adults. He is on stage alone for just over an hour. Long Way Down, adapted from the renowned young adult novel in verse by Jason Reynolds, is told in the voice of a 15-year-old named Will and performed by the prodigiously talented Justin Weaks.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |