We saw Hookman over a month ago – mostly because we try to see everything that Steep produces, not because we were attracted to the play. To refresh my mind, I read through several reviews, and this one from "Picture this Post" by Brent Eichoff seemed to capture an uneven night of theater, “this genre bending play jams one part drama, one part coming-of-age story, one part horror, and one part comedy into its 70-minute running time. The result is a dizzying and at times uneven, but thoroughly enjoyable play addressing such topics as the safety of young women, date rape, and survivor’s guilt."
What I remember most is the guiltless viciousness (funny as well) of the protagonist’s college friends. Lexi, a college freshman from the Left Coast is attending an Ivy League school on the Right Coast, likely on scholarship. A stream of frenemies keeps up a riff of indifference, boredom, malice and faux support. Guileless Lexi finds solace in the reappearance of her West Coast BBF, who was killed in a gruesome auto accident involving Lexi. It’s interesting that male reviewer Eichoff captured nothing of the loss of a loving friend and the reality of shallow acquaintances.
The playwright, Lauren Yee, won multiple awards for her work, though she is just 21. Yes, 21, and already has plays produced by The Goodman and Steep. Imagine what the future hold for her and for us.