wesley j. colford & reneé haché
Aim for the Tangent’sMature Young Adults is a new play by Wesley J. Colford, a young playwright/actor originally from Sydney, Nova Scotia that was commissioned by the Paprika Festival in Toronto while he was a Playwright-in-Residence. It plays at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax as part of the Atlantic Fringe Festival, which runs through September 8th, 2013.
Mature Young Adults explores the (mostly) covert relationship between Jonathan and Caitlin, two teenagers that live in Sydney and New Waterford respectively as, like in Annie Hall, Jonathan attempts to retrace his steps to find the exact moment when everything suddenly went wrong. The chemistry between the two is often endearing and joyful, yet bubbling just beneath the surface are signs of manipulation, codependence and obsession. The play also alludes to how toxic a society that forcefully chastises and stigmatizes sexuality and sexual curiosity can be to the development of a healthy relationship and one’s own self esteem.
Colford gives a lovely performance as Jonathan, bumbling over his words, feeling all of his emotions with ardent intensity and continually oscillating between being sweet and being, albeit his good intentions, a bit too much. Reneé Haché is adorable as Caitlin, she has a beautiful vulnerability and wide open heart, but the audience also is able to see her grow and settle into her own skin and to empower herself amid a tangled web of mixed emotions and confusion.
Colford’s dialogue captures the cadences of speech for eighteen year olds nicely, but is less realistic in the flashback scenes when Caitlin and Jonathan are fifteen. There are a few elements that seem a bit contrived that could be achieved in a subtler way and I would have liked to see Colford play more with Caitlin’s language, as New Waterford is such a unique linguistic dreamboat, which would have rooted the story even more fervently in its specific time and place.
Overall, however, Mature Young Adults is a strong piece with two compelling performances that I found to be honest and charming.
TWISI Star Rating: 
Watch the Trailer Here:
Mature Young Adults plays at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (1723 Hollis Street- enter in the doors on Bedford Row under the Construction scaffolding) at the following times:
Saturday, Aug 31 • 4:00pm
Sunday, Sep 1 • 8:00pm
Monday, Sep 2 • 3:00pm
Wednesday, Sep 4 • 7:45pm
Thursday, Sep 5 • 10:35pm
Friday, Sep 6 • 5:25pm
Saturday, Sep 7 • 10:20pm
Sunday, Sep 8 • 3:00pm
Tickets are $10.00 and are available in advance online at this website or 30 minutes before each show at the venue on the day of the performance. All tickets bought in person must be purchased with either cash or credit. For more information please visit this website or call 902.422.7604 between 10:00am and 5:00pm.
