Five college seniors have quite a night ahead of them in world premiere play (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
ALL NIGHTER
Newman Mills Theater
Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space
511 West Fifty-Second St. between Tenth & Eleventh Aves.
Through May 18, $55-$99
allnighterplay.com
Much like the characters in Natalie Margolin’s All Nighter, in which five seniors are in the home stretch of college, pulling their last all-night session studying and writing papers before graduation in a few days, the play itself is entering its final weekend, graduating with honors, high on the dean’s list.
At a small liberal arts college in rural Pennsylvania in 2014, a group of close friends gather in a glassed-in social ballroom; their usual table is taken by an archrival, making them immediately uneasy. Things will only get worse.
Darcie (AnnaSophia Robb) seems to have it all under control, an attractive blond with good grades, a serious boyfriend, and a clear direction. Lizzy (Isa Briones) is somewhat scattershot and upset that two of her Adderall pills are missing. Jacqueline (Tony nominee and Grammy winner Kathryn Gallagher) is concerned what will happen to her and her girlfriend once school is over and believes that their house is haunted by a ghost who is acting out. Tessa (Alyah Chanelle Scott) is stressed out by how much she has to do while recovering from a hangover. And Wilma (Tony nominee Julia Lester) is a force of nature, a loud fairy punk who gets on everyone’s nerves as she speaks without a filter and keeps interrupting their studying.
Margolin captures the essence of what they’re experiencing in sharp scenes filled with realistic dialogue.
Lizzy: If I think about how much work I have to do in the next twelve hours I might actually vomit.
Jacqueline: It will get done. We’ve done this so many times.
Darcie: It’s the home stretch.
Tessa: I really do love you guys.
Darcie: I’m already crying.
Jacqueline: I love you guys so much. I just wish we were at a different table.
Tessa: Stop.
Lizzy: I can’t believe we graduate in five days.
Darcie: Let’s all hold hands.
Tessa: Let’s pray for everyone’s love and happiness and success.
Darcie: I’m seriously so proud of all of you.
Jacqueline: It has to stay like this. Even after graduation.
Darcie: When our real lives begin!
Tessa: How daunting.
Tessa (Alyah Chanelle Scott), Jacqueline (Kathryn Gallagher), and Wilma (Julia Lester) face an uncertain future in Natalie Margolin’s All Nighter (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
When Tessa finds out that someone has stolen her credit card and is using it, she is determined to find the thief, who appears to be on campus. Wilma is devastated that Darcie tells her she doesn’t look good in orange. They share Lizzy’s Adderall and Wilma’s Focalin. They gossip about themselves and others. They agree how important hummus has been to their college experience. Darcie’s laptop keeps dinging suspiciously. They sing Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball,” belting out, “I guess I should’ve let you in / I never meant to start a war / I just wanted you to let me in.”
As morning approaches and deadlines near, powerful secrets emerge that threaten their friendship and their futures.
All the elements come together beautifully, from Wilson Chin’s relatable set and Michelle J. Li’s appropriate costumes (wait till you see what Wilma wears) to Ben Stanton’s lighting (which narrows focus to spotlight characters’ poignant side chats) and M. L. Dogg’s sound, complete with immersive chatter. Jaki Bradley’s crystal-clear direction makes us feel like we’re in the room with the young women while also making us recall the all nighters that we pulled in college. The cast, which includes a few changes since the play opened, is sensational; the actors’ depiction of the fears and desires that come at such an important time of life hit the mark.
I’m glad that I never have to go through that period myself again, but I loved going through it with Darcie, Lizzy, Jacqueline, Tessa, and Wilma.
[Mark Rifkin is a Brooklyn-born, Manhattan-based writer and editor; you can follow him on Substack here.]