All New People

          In the opening moments of Zach Braff's (yes that Zach Braff) new dark comedy, Charlie is about to hang himself to the sounds of Celtic rock music. He is suddenly interrupted (rudely, divinely?) by Emma, a real estate agent who is set to show the beach house that Charlie has chosen for his final act to clients who have not yet arrived. From here we begin a journey that brings us to destinations both funny and tragic.
        The play shifts it's moods quickly being insanely funny at one moment and incredibly dark and serious the next. Actually, even the comedy is mostly dark and quirky. Two other characters enter the mix, a former drama teacher/drug dealer turned firefighter/drug dealer named Myron and an Escort named Kim. Each of these characters serves a purpose, for the most part, and also bring a bit of brevity to the situation at hand (Charlies impending suicide).

      All New People has a double meaning. At first one believes that it refers to the fact that these complete strangers have entered Charlies life at the moment when he had intended to end it. Late in the second half of the intermissionless play however, a small, almost lost moment occurs that sheds a different light.

       Braffs text is very good. He has crafted a very interesting story, and drawn characters that are real and three dimensional. The play is a little bit uneven and could use with a some tightening here and there. The play utilizes a device of showing flashbacks on a screen while the actors freeze. Some of these things are very funny, but they slow the action of the play and none of the information that is revealed in the flashbacks is of any importance to the action, and if it is, it is repeated anyhow for the benefit of the other characters who don't know what happened in the flashback, rendering them a waste of time.

      The actors populating All New People are quite good for the most part. Justin Bartha tends to get a bit manic to the point of being unbelievable, but he is most effective when he calms down and allows Charlie to be amused by his surroundings. As Emma, Krysten Ritter is at first a bit phony and hard to understand, but as the play warms up so does she. Though she has difficulty selling an abrupt shift toward the end of the play.

      David Wilson Barnes does the best at showcasing his characters changes in disposition. He has the ability to portray Myron's arrogance as well as his underlying vulnerability and need for love and acceptance by those around him. As Kim Anna Camp has the most difficult job because her character has the least substance of all four in the play. She does tremendously well at giver Kim a lack of intelligence but at the same time making her sweet, naive, and ultimately very believable. Hers are some of the funniest lines of the play.

     All New People closes at Second Stage theater on Sunday August 14th, 2011, but I'm sure it will be a very popular piece in regional theaters. There is also the distinct possibility that it could resurface on Broadway in the coming season, as there are many houses open. Either way, if you can get to second stage by Sunday, or if you find it playing at a theater near you, check it out. You will have a good time.