The Boys Next Door (Act 2)

This was a very touching play. It really tugged at my heart and there were moments that I thought were very clever and other times that made me very sad. Very well written.

When the second act opened up with Lucien constantly practicing his lines for the senate, and when he actually spoke in front of the senate really painted a vivid picture of such his struggles and day to day challenges that a mental disabled individual(s) face. "I am retarded. I am damaged. I am sick inside from so many years of confusion, utter and profound confusion...But I will not go away. And I will not wither because the cage is too small. I am here to remind species of species. I am Lucien Percival Smith. And without me, without my shattered crippled brain, you will never again be frightened by what you have become. Or indeed, by what your future might make you"(Griffin, 52). Such profoundness and truth all at the same time. Those words penetrate in such deep meaning and cut through the core of the disease. It makes me feel and think of what my life is and how I view certain circumstances. And its true, when I see such cases of people who are mental handicapped I do thank God silently that I am not there, then I feel guilty for thinking that way.

Further in the reading, When Sheila ended up visiting Norman stood out to me as well. It really touched me how excited the two were, and how genuine their intentions were to each other; they truly liked one another. When Norman was sad about crushing the flowers that Sheila brought him and Sheila honestly did not mind showed the compassion such people have. I loved the key part, such a small and maybe to others an insignificant aspect meant the whole world to Sheila.

What truly sadden me was the fact that Barry's father was so abusive, and that his raising was so harsh. It was devastating to read how Barry's first word was 'Bitch', and that the parents were proud of that. Wow, how sad! There was one sign of hope that the father gave Barry, was that his mother truly loved him. But was that enough? The broken chocolate heart brought a lot of symbolism as well. I think Barry's heart was broken.

When Jack decided to get another Job, did not show that he wanted to leave the guys. Just deep down inside he knew he had to move one with his life. It touched me to see how the guys threw the so called surprise going away party for Jack and then it hit them all that he was leaving. The end of the play when Jack found Arnold at the station illustrated that he did not give up on the guys.

What a great read :)