The Outsiders Review (Spoilers Ahead)

WEST ORANGE, NJ– On the nights of November 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, West Orange High School (WOHS) presented “The Outsiders”, the infamous novel that tackles themes of loss innocence and gang violence between the “Greasers” and “Socials”. Actors and actresses from freshmen to seniors performed play that was adapted from the book.

The acting in this production was incredible. There was an overall strong cast but some standouts include Oliva Ridley, Erin Arnold, and Tyler Brooks. Sophomore Olivia Ridley played the role of the main character, PonyBoy and did an outstanding job. Ridley took on a role that was originally written for a male and embodied the character of PonyBoy so well. Another outstanding actress was Senior Erin Arnold, who played the role of Dallas. Dallas, also a role originally written for a male, is a tough Greaser but is more than just a criminal face. Arnold portrayed all the emotions Dallas tackles throughout the play exceptionally. Tyler Brooks stunned the crowd with his performance as PonyBoy’s older brother, Darry.

The hard work put on stage with the help of the stage managers and production crew made the three performance nights successful. The stage was set up with an immense gate in front of a backdrop that would change hues every couple of scenes. When there was an intense scene it would turn red, during calmer scenes it would remain purple. In the corner of the stage, stood the home of the brothers PonyBoy, Darry, and Sodapop. The set was built well and really brought to life the lives of these outsiders.

As someone who had never seen the film or read the book, this play did not disappoint at all. The audience laughed, might have cried a little (especially during the death of Johnny) and was impressed overall with this performance. I can’t wait to see what the WOHS Drama Club presents next!