Upper School Theater was proud to present a riveting performance of The Outsiders this weekend, adapted from the 1967 novel by S. E. Hinton. The play frames the conflict between the working-class “Greasers” and the upper-middle-class “Socs.” The play is set in 1960’s Tulsa, Oklahoma, highlighting the class divisions between the poorer East Side neighbourhood and the affluent West Side.

   The title of the play stems from the fact that the Greasers are seen as outcasts from mainstream society. This existential question of identity infiltrates the play both through its depictions of class divisions and the characters’ struggle with belonging within their own jurisdictions. Ponyboy, an introspective 14-year-old Greaser, struggles with identity as his sensitive nature and love for storytelling clash with his gang affiliation and socioeconomic status. Similarly, Cherry, a 16-year-old Soc, struggles with her identity as she tackles the disconnect between her outward appearance of privilege and inner empathy for the Greasers. With a multitude of characters navigating adolescence, The Outsiders poses itself as an all-time favorite coming-of-age novel. 

   A key element that the cast brought to the stage is loyalty and brotherhood. Dolan commends the novel on its demonstration of strength and unity in the face of adversity;he felt that it was the first book he could relate to as a young boy. The Outsiders emphasizes how the bonds of friendship and loyalty transcend social divides. The novel illustrates the power of chosen family through the greasers’ conclusion to stick together through thick and thin. Each young man’s journey demonstrates the love and compassion that they have for one another as they pride themselves on protecting their gang above all else.

   The play was chosen by the Upper School Theater Selection Committee, because they know that everyone at St.Stephen’s reads it in Middle School, and it is a powerful experience. Mr. Dolan witnessed a performance of the professionally staged musical version of The Outsiders and hoped to bring some of that energy to the stage without the musical component. When it comes to directing, Mr. Dolan took the liberty of using the novel to rewrite the play, uniquely combining two literary elements to form St. Stephen’s production. He gave a special shoutout to Assistant Director Annie Ehrlich and a huge thanks to the cast and crew for all their hard work in the past months. We hope you enjoyed the show!