The world of youth sports hasn't gotten much play on the American stage, but Sarah DeLappe's 2016 one-act "The Wolves" — about the fraught, hyper-competitive relationships on a high-school girls' indoor soccer team — is a notable exception.
A compelling, emotional production of the 90-minute play is running Oct. 1-4 at the Mainstage Theatre in the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Cultural Arts Building, and under the well-honed direction of theater department professor Chris Marino, with student co-director Emma Rombold, the talented college-student cast digs deep to create some memorable characters.
Identified only by number, there's angry mean girl #7 (Julia Outlaw); awkward, home-schooled new girl #46 (Evelyn Bircher); anxious #00
(Makayla Brock), who pukes before every game; coach's golden girl #25 (Bela Gonzalez), whose surface platitudes mask an interior discord; and religious, sheltered #02 (Cambell Lowery), who says, "I've had five concussions … I think?"
Believably overlapping dialogue plays out like a scene from a Robert Altman movie as conversations about genocide and "kids in cages" bump up against breezy jocularity and tales of problematic meet-ups with older boys, with talk of sports injuries and surgeries mirroring what might be a more spiritual sickness.
It all builds to a stunning conclusion that had many in Sunday's matinee audience in tears. (In addition to UNCW's production, PTPT Apprentice Theatre is staging a competing production of "The Wolves" Oct. 1-4 in Thalian Hall's studio theater.)
Now let's see what else is going down in Wilmington this weekend.
Weekend weather outlook
It's looking to be a warm, slightly soggy weekend. High in the upper 80s Friday, mid-to-low 80s Saturday and Sunday. Good chance of rain Saturday, and an even better chance Sunday.
Go | See | Do
Even though the Port City's biggest fall festival, Riverfest, was canceled for this weekend, plenty more events have lined up to take its place. From theater and visual art to festivals and tons of concerts, there's lots to see and do. Link to full list below.
The Dish with Port City Foodies
A Wilmington restaurant lands on USA TODAY's list of best sandwiches. Plus, a Leland brewery adds a new kitchen, and we look back at some of the area's oldest restaurants.
Getting to know Wilmington musicians
We check in on, and hang out with, some of the Wilmington artists who make their living playing live music, contributing to the musical soundtrack of the Port City in the process.
News you can use
A national toy retailer that closed its Wilmington store in 2018 returns for the holidays. Plus, we run down the list of sold-out performances at area venues so far this year, and review Thalian Association Community Theatre's bloody production of "Dracula."
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John Staton is the arts and culture reporter at the StarNews. You can reach him at jstaton@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Emotional youth sports on stage at UNCW, plus your Wilmington weekend
