Walking into Capital Stage, I was excited to see some relics of my own teenage years. Set in a teenage girl’s room, I saw posters of The Fault in Our Stars, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and a Keep Calm and Carry On poster. As I waited for the show to start, I had no idea the emotional whirlwind that was ahead.
I and You introduces us to Anthony and Caroline as they are paired together for a class project on Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. Caroline has been sick her whole life, but recently has become homebound to keep her as safe as possible. She needs a liver transplant, but that doesn’t stop her from keeping her guard up by being quick, sassy, and a little scornful. Anthony is much more of an open book. He is kind, popular, and athletic. As they let down their guards and share their secrets, this simple poetry project unlocks a much deeper mystery that has brought them together.
Having a show with only two actors is not an easy feat. The production is riding on the actors bringing their A-game, and McKenna Sennett and Braeden Harris killed it. McKenna gave so much personality and life to Caroline. Seeing her let down her walls and have an emotional connection with another teen after being confined to her room was moving. But even in the emotional moments she didn’t lose any of her feisty energy, which made her even more charming. And Braeden made Anthony warm and sensitive. Despite being curious about Caroline’s feelings towards mortality, he approaches questions with softness. He made me feel like Anthony was someone I could be friends with and share all my secrets with.
The show itself is beautiful and emotional. Not only does it deep dive into the fragility of life, but it also gives a look into the importance of human connection. This is seen the most with the use of Whitman’s Leaves of Grass throughout the show. The project bridges Anthony and Caroline together and brings them a new connection they never expected. I also enjoyed that this show was about teenagers, showing that the human experience doesn’t exclude anyone. If you are 16, 32, 60, or older, we all want to live a life that matters full of love, compassion, and understanding.
Much like Anthony and Caroline, I never expected to be so impacted by such a small moment in time. I cannot write enough rave reviews of I and You and, to quote Walt Whitman, there “will never be any more perfection than there is now.” Experience the show for yourself now through Dec. 28 at Capital Stage. Learn more here.
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