“I never mentioned that we should take our freedoms for granted.”
– #11
Nine athletes step onto the field. The match is swift, inventive, and unforgiving. And that’s before they encounter the opposing team.
In “The Wolves,” playwright Sarah DeLappe captures the unrefined enthusiasm, unrestrained chatter, and escalating tension present in an elite girls’ indoor soccer squad.
“The social relationships are intricate,” stated Annamaria Pileggi, a professor of practice in drama in WashU’s Performing Arts Department within Arts & Sciences, who will guide the Pulitzer-nominated play in Edison Theatre starting Friday, Feb. 21.
“These girls are competing for influence and acceptance,” Pileggi remarked. “As adolescents, they’re also striving to form a fundamental comprehension of their surroundings. That can elicit much humor. Their interactions are filled with wit. However, the play carries a poignant tone.
“It takes you through all the highs and lows.”
‘A pack of wolves’
Set on a simple AstroTurf field, “The Wolves” unfolds through six segments, each occurring during pregame preparations. The players, donned in matching uniforms and recognized solely by number, perform their drills with military-like accuracy.
“These are talented competitors,” Pileggi noted. “They are driven. They perform at elevated levels. That’s how they were raised; they are unaware of any other approach. However, that discipline comes with repercussions.”
Among the kicks, passes, and turns, the dialogue weaves. The players engage in discussions about hobbits and global happenings. They share inside jokes and tease one another. They comment on body image, college recruitment, pregnancy, and social unease. They empathize regarding parents, siblings, love interests, and naturally, injuries.
Even though the athletes are not named, “DeLappe does a commendable job of defining their unique characteristics,” Pileggi mentioned. “There’s a specific archetypical essence. Every team has its leader, every team has the intellectual, and every team has someone who embodies the ‘cool kid’ vibe. Their traits emerge through their interactions in that intense atmosphere.
“Towards the conclusion of the play, the team experiences a misfortune,” Pileggi added. “I don’t wish to spoil it, but you observe how they unite — and fail to unite — around that incident as a community.
“In the past few years, women’s athletics have distinctly established themselves,” Pileggi concluded. “It differs from men’s sports. It relies more on the dynamics between the players. This play illustrates that. It highlights the social interplay.
“It reveals how these girls evolve into a pack of wolves.”
Cast and crew
The ensemble cast includes Parker Lesher and Coco Jones portraying best friends #7 and #14. Ella Sherlock and Raquel Elle Brouwer are midfielders #11 and #13. Taylor Miller plays #25, the defensive leader and surrogate mentor.
Danielle Bryden portrays new girl #46. Leo Young is unfortunate #2. Talia Vinson shines as #8, a defender who appears less clever than she really is. Charlotte Bartels is the perfectionist goalkeeper #00. Completing the cast is Frauke Thielecke as Soccer Mom, the only adult in the performance.
Scenic design is by Obike Anwisye. Costume design is helmed by Dominique Green. The lighting and sound design come from Nick Cochran and Sean M. Savoie. Props are managed by Emily Frei. The stage manager is Marisa Daddazio, with support from Stella Larson. Heather Elaine Anderson serves as both assistant director and costume designer. The soccer consultant is Sara Wargo.
Tickets
Performances of “The Wolves” are scheduled in WashU’s Edison Theatre commencing at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22; and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23. The performances will carry on the next weekend, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 1; and at 2 p.m. March 2.
Edison Theatre is situated in the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6465 Forsyth Blvd. Tickets are priced at $20, or $15 for seniors, students, and WashU faculty and staff, while WashU students gain entry free of charge. Tickets can be acquired through the WashU Box Office. For further details, contact 314-935-6543 or visit pad.wustl.edu.
“The Wolves” is made available by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French Inc. Attendees will have a chance to win two tickets to the upcoming St. Louis City SC match on March 15 against the Seattle Sounders.
The article ‘The Wolves’ opens Feb. 21 in Edison Theatre originally appeared on The Source.