I love The Outsiders. I read The Outsiders in middle school, like many American children do. I was mesmerized by the constellation of young Greasers and Socs and their dangerous lives. The characters were unforgettable, bolstered even further in my memory by their distinctive names and the iconic cast of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film adaptation. Against the simple backdrop of a story about rival teen gangs, The Outsiders creates a rich world filled with resilience, trust, and love among its central characters. The stage adaptation premiered in 2023, and comes to Richmond this week by way of the Altria Theater’s Broadway in Richmond series. This lively production captures the Greasers’ distinct spirit and the seriousness of their lives as teenagers while treating audiences to astounding stagecraft along the way.
Stunning Effects and Exciting Storytelling
The Outsiders does what Broadway in Richmond does best: creates a thrilling spectacle. The scenography is incredible. The show uses lighting and sound effects in creative and impactful ways, punctuating violent scenes with visceral sensations of fear and pain. Throughout the production, the importance of the lighting design is clear, not only enhancing the action but often defining the scene. The strobe lights demand your attention in moments of violence and strife, while the lights also create the calm golden beauty of the sunset Ponyboy and Johnny watch together.
In contrast with many of the songs, which provide straightforward exposition and plot beats in the lyrics, the creative choreography and effects allow the audience to follow nonverbal cues and make sense of the story for themselves. There are so many cool elements of this show, from small props that enhance choreography like planks and baseball bats to huge set pieces like cars with headlights. On a long list of excellent design components and effects, the use of water probably stood out the most as a tool that really elevated the production and gave it a distinct feeling. The Outsiders is an incredible sight that brings those complicated, elaborate Broadway-feeling elements to the stage for its Richmond audience.
Performances that Bring New Life to Beloved Literary Characters
The cast also sounds fantastic. The big ensemble numbers are powered by strong harmonies that sound like more than the sum of their parts. Even from the audience, you can feel those notes in your chest. I expected the music to be blues-inspired from the first few songs, but many of them have a more standard show tune sound. Some of the songs lean a little hard on familiar archetypes and conventions, but some are gripping, and they are all performed well by this cast. Nolan White plays Ponyboy with youthful exuberance, firmly establishing the story’s hopeful undertones despite its tragedies. White makes the story feel like it’s by and for young people, as The Outsiders should be.
Bonale Fambrini, who plays Johnny Cade, sings beautifully and imbues the character with shyness and kindness—all of which I could also say about Emma Hearn’s soft-spoken turn as Cherry Valance. But the especially commanding performance in The Outsiders is Tyler Jordan Wesley as Dallas Winston, the complicated and conflicted leader of the Greasers. Wesley unearths Dally’s defensiveness, vulnerability, and pain, while still radiating the charisma and toughness that have established his position in the group. The care between Dally and Johnny is clear, grounded not only in the Greasers’ shared experiences as low-income Tulsans but also in their unstable and unsafe family lives.
The Outsiders, Nearly 60 Years Later
The Outsiders focuses on the relationships and bonds between its characters, but the impact of external factors is obvious: it’s a story of economic disparity and systemic violence as well as the interpersonal kind. It’s clear from the passionate audience of children and teenagers at the Altria Theater this Tuesday that The Outsiders endures as a story that captures the intensity and unfairness of growing up in an inequitable world. This retelling honors those core themes while entertaining with a collection of strong performances and remarkable, interesting stagecraft that will thrill audiences.
The Outsiders is playing at the Altria Theater until March 29 as part of the Broadway in Richmond series. The show runs around two hours and 30 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. The production includes strobe and smoke effects. You can find more information about showtimes and tickets here.
Read about one of the show’s stars, a Shenandoah University student, here.
