34 pages • 1 hour read
This Is Our Youth
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
128
Play • Fiction
New York City • 1980s
•
Apathy•
Friendship1996
Adult
17-35 years
Super Short Summary
First published in 1999, This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan is a dark comedy set in 1982, focusing on three troubled young adults—Dennis, Warren, and Jessica. When Warren steals $15,000 from his father, Dennis spends some on drugs, and Warren uses it to impress Jessica, taking her to an expensive hotel. The play explores themes of materialism, maturity, and adolescence. The play features discussions of familial abuse and substance use.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Gritty
Nostalgic
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
2,203 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth receives acclaim for its raw and honest portrayal of disillusioned youth in the 1980s. Reviewers appreciate the sharp dialogue and complex characters. Some critique its limited plot progression, but most agree it compellingly captures the angst and aimlessness of its era, making it an engaging study of youthful rebellion and vulnerability.
Who Should Read This Is Our Youth?
A reader who would enjoy This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan is likely interested in coming-of-age stories that explore themes of youth, identity, and rebellion in urban settings. Comparable works include J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye and Bret Easton Ellis's Less Than Zero.
2,203 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
This Is Our Youth premiered in 1996 and has since become a staple of American theater, known for its raw and authentic portrayal of young adulthood in the 1980s.
The play had its notable Broadway debut in 2014 at the Cort Theatre, starring Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, and Tavi Gevinson, which helped draw attention from a broader, mainstream audience.
Kenneth Lonergan is celebrated for his ability to write dialogue that captures the nuances of everyday speech, with This Is Our Youth exemplifying his skill in crafting relatable and compelling conversations among characters.
This Is Our Youth premiered in 1996 and has since become a staple of American theater, known for its raw and authentic portrayal of young adulthood in the 1980s.
The play had its notable Broadway debut in 2014 at the Cort Theatre, starring Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, and Tavi Gevinson, which helped draw attention from a broader, mainstream audience.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
Kenneth Lonergan is celebrated for his ability to write dialogue that captures the nuances of everyday speech, with This Is Our Youth exemplifying his skill in crafting relatable and compelling conversations among characters.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
128
Play • Fiction
New York City • 1980s
•
Apathy•
Friendship1996
Adult
17-35 years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 9,100+ additional titles.