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I And You

Reviewed by Vanessa Cate

Fountain Theatre

Through June 14

Leaves of Grass — a collection of poetry by Walt Whitman – is an American epic that underwent 37- years of revisions and which sought to engage the reader immediately in a meaningful and personal way, forcing them to be present in the poetic experience.

I and You — written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Robin Larsen — revolves around Leaves of Grass, but in no way emulates it in relatability, nor in its reworking. Though the play was commissioned by South Coast Repertory in 2012 and has undergone several readings, workshops and productions, what is presented could use a strong editing hand.

Caroline (Jennifer Finch) is a chronically sick high school senior who hasn’t been to school all year. Anthony (Matthew Hancock) bursts jarringly into her room and announces they must work on a school project together. Caroline is nonplussed, but begrudgingly agrees despite, among other things, not knowing who he is.

The project that dominates the play is about Walt Whitman’s use of pronouns in his writing — at times so much so that the play itself feels like a high school English project. As such, here are the facts (not all of which are presented in the play): Whitman’s “You” refers often to the reader directly, and there are four main personas given to the addressee by his directed poetry (the child or student, the intimate, the future you, and the alien/other you). His “I” also changes depending upon subject matter, and the whole of the work strives toward connectivity between poet and reader, on themes concerning the entirety of humankind.

So what is Gunderson trying to get at? “Whitman says we are all one because we are all equal, even though it might not look like it at times. There is a universal oneness,” she has said.

Gunderson clearly strives for her characters to do the same, to discover a cosmic connection. And, well, they sort of do. Going back and forth, they discover that one likes jazz, one likes Elvis, as well as truly unimportant trivia. And these characters come to truly care about each other within a matter of hours.

The problem is that we don’t. Caroline is marinated in self-pity, yet remains belligerent toward anything received as “nice” from Anthony. And Anthony is blindly optimistic until becoming very distraught over a sudden revelation. Neither character is consistent in either their identities nor their desires. The challenge for the audience is trying to connect with characters who have no point of connection.

The ending enjoys a twist, which might surprise (not least of all because it seems largely unsupported, as well as accompanying certain logical gaps that by this time are commonplace), but does not necessarily give us any insight. Tom Buderwtiz and Dillon Nelson’s set and props are the highlight of this otherwise juvenile play.

Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave. Hlywd.; Fri.- Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.; through April 26. (323) 663-1525, www.FountainTheatre.com