What Two Teenagers and a School Project Taught Me About Life

    My new favorite play that I read in my Introduction to Theater course is I and You by Lauren Gunderson. It's so memorable because it deals so much about how important human interaction is, one's identity, and how our lives can change because of something as powerful as art. Gunderson, as a playwright known for writing things that are women-centered, scientific, and based on history, uses I and You to develop a story that is simple within its setting yet rich in idea.

    The whole play takes place in a single room and deals with only two characters: Caroline, a teenager bedridden by illness, and Anthony, a classmate who comes to work on a school project. The two are as different as possible at the start—Caroline is kind of sarcastic and withdrawn, and Anthony is a social and highly driven person. But as the play goes on, you start to see how much they have in common, and how they both need to open themselves up to one another in order to learn about themselves and their lives more deeply.

    I adored this play because of the way Gunderson illustrates how two people who would never seem to get along can become close when they really connect. Caroline and Anthony start off the play as strangers, but, by its end, they're having real, deep conversations. It was wonderful to see how Gunderson was able to bring these two people together and show that, even though they have different histories, they could form a long-term relationship if they take time to really hear one another.

    Another reason why I and You hit so hard is the way it uses the concept of art and what it can do. Caroline and Anthony are working on a project using Walt Whitman's poetry, and as they become involved in his work, they start to view their own lives differently. Gunderson uses Whitman's poetry to show how something as boring as a school project can lead to such wonderful self-discovery. The play actually demonstrates quite vividly how art has a unique power to allow us to understand ourselves and our emotions at a deeper level.

    I couldn't possibly discuss I and You without mentioning the surprise twist at the end. Not wanting to spoil anything, it definitely did surprise me. It takes the whole play to mean something entirely different from what you thought you initially knew about the characters. It's surprising and moving, and it makes the play all the more powerful than I ever believed.

    What really stayed with me, however, was the simplicity of the play in its presentation. It's literally two people in one room, and the plot is fairly straightforward. But Gunderson takes it so much further than that. She demonstrates to us that you don't need to have a huge stage or a huge number of characters to convey a powerful, thought-provoking message. It's a reminder that oftentimes the most memorable moments arise when we make the effort to actually speak with someone, even for just a few seconds.

    All in all, I and You is a beautiful play that demonstrates Lauren Gunderson's ability to write complicated, real people and grapple with big ideas in an intimate way. It's a play about connection, about art, and about the ways that people can unexpectedly change each other's lives. If you're looking for a play that is both entertaining and substantial, I and You is definitely worth attending.