Clever, Thoughtful, Well Performed Play with Stimulating, Challenging Social Issues

One often hears about the big Broadway shows but little about the cleverly written thoughtful plays that appeal to the mind. "When We Were Young and Unafraid" (by Sarah Treem) , is one of those rare breed of great drama that challenges the intellect and soul - in a contemplative, gentle manner. It played this past summer in New York City. 

I saw this play July 23, 2014, at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Full house. I had learned of it from a recent review of two feminist plays in the Sunday NYTimes. The play was tremendously well done and written, with a nice balance of drama,tragedy and comic relief (in the form of lines). It is set in 1972 in a bed and breakfast on an island off the coast of Seattle. There were many social issues including wife abuse, abortion, coming of age through teenage years, gender inequality in college admission, and the imbalance of power between the sexes in many relationships. The playwright, Sarah Treem, did a fantastic job. She has written and produced the HBO series "In Treatment", HBO series "How to Make it in America" and (the only one of these 3 that I've seen) the Netflix series "House of Cards" (which I have to say is a favourite of mine). The lead actor was Cherry Jones, who provided a wonderful performance as a nurse who had lost her accreditation on account of performing abortions and is now on an island off Seattle running a b&b, but also a safe haven for abused wives. She also gives them the benefit of her knowledge as to how they can break out of the cycle of their abusive relationships. Some do, others end up back in it, and some end up dead. In any event, she's won 2 Tonys and an Emmy - the quality of her acting was most apparent. Some of the audience really knew her - some applause when she first appeared on stage. I don't think I've seen any of her previous work. The teenage "daughter" was Morgan Saylor. She superbly acted the passion of a Grade 12 teenager, who was struggling with boys, sex, and applying to Yale. At intermission I was reading her bio and realized that I've seen her work in the Showtime series 'Homeland'. She was Brodie's daughter. What quality in this play and cast! Who would have thought that there was this sort of gem tucked away in the depths of NYC. I expect there's a lot of that; you just have to seek it out through the layers of stuff/busyness/commercialism/crap that appeals to the general masses.

Two zingers from the play: Both were said by Hannah, the feminista (revolutionary feminist) of the characters:

"Lesbians are the only true feminists."

and later

"We'll never be equal with men if we keep sleeping with them."

Wonderful performance; most worth seeing!