S.E. Hinton’s tragic coming-of-age story, The Outsiders, has been a classic among America’s youth for the past half-decade. Although required reading for many schools, the underdog greasers grabbed the hearts of many.
In 2024, this classic tale of love, loss, and fitting in was transformed into a musical. It was instantly a hit and has received 12 Tony nominations and won four.
On Nov. 4, I, along with the rest of the Paw Print seniors and English teachers Mrs. Jo Ellen Sholl and Mrs. Beck Boyd, got the pleasure of seeing this musical live at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City.
The musical takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967 and tells the story of fourteen-year-old boy Ponyboy (played by Eli Talley) and his struggle to fit in. He finds himself caught between the world of the Greasers and Socs. His sensitive nature makes it difficult for him to fit in with his greaser friends, but the Socs reject him due to his social status.
However, soon a seemingly innocent coming of age story takes a dark turn with an accidental murder and two boys on the lam.
With a forbidden romance, an irreversible crime, followed by a final tragic series of events, there is never a dull moment in this musical.
The performance was carried by Talley and his amazing vocal performance and emotional acting. He portrays Ponyboy’s journey from a lost boy with no sense of self or belonging to a young man who is sure of himself and his identity. Although he was an understudy for the role, he shined through and put on an incredible performance.
Another strong asset to the cast is Emma Pittman who plays Cherry Valance, a misunderstood Soc girl who never felt like she truly belonged. Her strong voice and vibrato stole the show in every song she sang in.
Alex Joseph Grayson, who played Dally Winston, the hard-headed leader of the greasers, also put on an amazing performance. He played the complex character of Dally so well through small acting choices. He showed Dally’s internal struggle between being vulnerable and wanting to keep a strong front perfectly.
The musical also offered up many catchy and emotional songs. “Great Expectations” is a perfect example of this, as Ponyboy ruminates over his role in society and what’s expected of him, versus who he really is, while the ensemble sings a haunting melody in the background.
Another outstanding aspect of the show was its choreography. The musical was filled with many large and intense scenes, and used dance and choreographed movements to portray the events unfolding. One of the best examples of this would be the final fight scene in the play. In this scene, the greasers and the Socs face off in one last fight. The choreographed movements and creative
The musical was a heartbreaking, but ultimately satisfying journey throughout a young boy’s journey to discover himself, and where he belongs. It is an extremely underrated gem of a musical that deserves all of the praise it has received. With intensely emotional scenes and amazing acting choices by the entire cast, the show ended with not a single dry eye among the audience. Ponyboy’s struggle leads to the beautiful discovery that your family and who you are is chosen by you, not determined by your social status.
