Interesting and gritty play about four friends and what it means to grow up in today's world.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this script in exchange for my honest review.

Ike Holter's play Sender is a really interesting examination of what life is like for Millenials as they cross the barrier from their late 20s and into their early 30s.

I was given a chance to read the play from the publisher, so my review is based purely on the text of the play and not on an actual performance. Furthermore, I thankful for the opportunity to review this play, but my review is not influenced by the publisher.

The premise of this story is one that is definitely new, which is great. The story begins one-year to the day after Lynx disappeared and then shows back up on the doorstep of his former girlfriend, Tess, who has spent the past year mourning his death. As you can imagine, the shock of seeing someone that was presumed dead throws Tess for an emotional loop. In addition to Tess, the play includes two other characters Jordan and his wife Cassandra. Jordan was Lynx's best friend, so he's also spent the last year in a dizzying haze, which included his getting married to Cassie. Cassie is the most "adult" of the group of four, but they are all highly fallible people.

Overall, one of the biggest problems I had with this play is that no one is likable, which isn't necessarily a huge problem in modern theater. Down the line, each person is self-centered and fairly obnoxious in her or his own way. However, by the end of the play, you at least feel that there is hope for all four as they all finally face up to the fact that growing up happens.

Stylistically, I found this play to be very similar to David Mamet. The cadence of the dialogue along with the intelligent use of profanity and sexuality was reminiscent of Mamet's Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Of course, this similarity is also telling since Holter's play also takes place in Chicago. I definitely think this play will be one that is seen on numerous college campuses across this nation.