GR82BU. No, rly.

Emerging playwright Stephen Karam talks the talk of teens. Not only does this 29-year-old writer capture the mood, he also captures the mode of how older youth maneuver through the tricky time between teen and adulthood. Speech & Debate bull’s-eyes the dialogue, passion and pathos of three high-school misfits, while showcasing the modern methods of communicating through chat rooms, blogs, podcasts, texting and cell phones. These teens—realistically portrayed by three talented young actors, Lindsay Carter, Ben Ismail and Matthew Rogozinksi—come together through shared secrets, loneliness and a yearning to be accepted for what they are and what they want to be. They are also both savvy and naive about the power and privacy of new social media. Though the plot can become a bit muddled, the overall production is strong, funny and memorable.