The La Jolla Playhouse is currently offering the world premiere of “The Outsiders A New Musical” with Book by Adam Rapp (that comes from both Hinton’s novel and as well as the film adaptation) and music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justine Levine with musical supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Levine. It is directed by Danya Taymor and choreographed by the amazing Kuperman Brothers Rick and Jeff. This musical version took Rapp and Levine eight years to get us where we are today with no less than 18 songs, some worthy (Robert Frost's brief ode to youth and decay, "Nothing Gold Can Stay”and “Runs In The Family”) others not.
Going back into the past, it was two decades before “The Outsiders”, the movie, based on the 1967 novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1980’s motion Picture was made that yours truly was finding her own way navigating through and past her teens. The feelings are real. They are scary, and who better to write about them than a teenager herself.
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| Cast of Outsiders |
Hinton’s teens were different in the 60’s in Tulsa, Oklahoma where Hinton’s the Greasers and the Socs or Socialites was conceived. Her story takes place over a two year period as she reflects on her own life.
She was sixteen, a teenager herself when she started to write her novel about two teen aged rival gangs who were fighting over a scrap of land to call their own that looked more like a discarded junk yard with spare tires, a jungle gym and used cars. It was the year “Cool Hand Luke” starring Paul Newman was at the Drive In Movie.
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| Cast |
The play opens to a giant screen with the likeness of Newman. Not only was he Cool Hand Luke, he was COOL and everyone wanted to be like him. From there we meet the characters all twenty five of them; who they were and their coming of age, the agony and the mystery of their youth, their loss of innocence and their gradual but seldom aha moments.
Brothers Ponyboy, Darrel and Sodapop (Brody Grant, Ryan Vasquez and Jason Schmidt), were orphans living on their own and struggling to get by. As best friends, as well as brothers, they squabble and make up knowing that they can always depend each other. Even better, their true friends Johnny and Two-Bit (Sky Lakota Lynch and Trevor McGhie) are as loyal as brothers. They could always count on them for back up.
On the other side of town, the Socs led by Bob (Kevin William Paul) and his ilk live. But when one of the Socs gals, Cherry (Piper Patterson) takes a liking to Ponyboy, more than the usual tension erupts, rumbles turn violent and consequences are yet to come.
There were ‘rumbles’, (yes, one in particular on a rain soaked stage) where in time, no good would cause the demise of one. The Socs were a nasty bunch of wealthy trouble makers and they knew where to find it, so sure of themselves that they would always get the best in a fight. Neither group was going to give in to their better instincts.
Overall the two -hour plus production, with Taymor’s direction, AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian scenic design, Sarafina Bush’s costume design, Isabella Byrd’s lighting design, Justin Ellington’s sound design, Tal Yarden’s projections, Nicholas C. Parish wigs, Toshonna Ferguson’s makeup and the beyond amazing physical choreography by the Kuperman’s “The Outsiders The New Musical” will rock the socks off audiences here, and most likely New York.
With a few minor tweaks (more character development for the Socs and bringing in a quasi-love interest didn’t resonate) this sturdy and stunning cast deserves a shout out for making this premiere world class production, warts and all, the success that it is.
Over the years there have been and still are dangerous gangs out there and as society has changed they grow more dangerous. Yet for some, belonging to something to prevent us from being considered or feeling an outsider is as natural as apple pie whether it’s serving a good cause or making trouble.
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through April 2
Where: La Jolla Playhouse, Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive
Photo: Rich Soublet II
Tickets: $25 and up
Phone: (858) 550-1010
Online: lajollaplayhouse.org
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