The Boys Next Door (Act 1)

I found this reading to be quite enjoyable. It was a nice break from the other readings I do in my science classes. There were parts of the play that made me laugh and there were parts that I felt a bit sad for the characters.

Throughout the reading, I was able to picture the scenery and the different types of personalities that were going on. The beginning was quite entertaining and it illustrated right away what type of play this was, about people who somehow try to fit societies standards and yet stick out. At first, I was confused why Arnold was buying so many wheaties, lettuce, and charcoal briquets. Then as soon as Arnold kept repeating it over and over again, I began to realize that he had a condition that things in his brain did not connect the dots all together. I've worked with people who were mentally handicapped. Honestly, it was a very humbling experience because these people are one of the most joyful people you will ever meet. Like whatever they say or do, you know that deep down you can't blame them or truly laugh at them because they have good heart and just want to fit in. I can not imagine the struggle they go through trying to understand and comprehend things that make basic sense to us.

Jack was a man that had good intentions and he seemed to have truly cared about the characters in the play. He wanted to make them feel accepted and teach them responsibilities. For example, when Jack asked Arnold to return the things back to the store because he knew that the employees used Arnold's disability to an advantage showed that Jack wanted to truly teach the men that he looked after respect, and responsibility. Unfortunately, its a bit more easier said then done, in this case dealing with such cases.

When Jack erupted at Arnold at the dance party, illustrated that somehow we are not quite different with people who have disabilities. That deep down we are all humans, who make mistakes and have moments of weakness. That we should recognize that individuals who are not like us, necessarily, are in some way are like us... human.

Overall, very easy and entertaining read and made you laugh, smile, be sad. Very well written play so far.