The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
EntertainmentThe LatestTheater

Theater Review: ‘Angry Young Man’ at Urban Stages

by Nico Chapin March 23, 2017
by Nico Chapin March 23, 2017 0 comments
926

What do you make of a play that doesn’t know who its audience is?

Angry Young Man, opening this week at Urban Stages, tells the story of a Yussef. He’s an immigrant from an unnamed Middle Eastern country who has sought refuge (and a job) in London after a botched surgery (β€œMalpractice makes perfect!” he comforts). Yet more than anything, his story feels like a modern Midnight Cowboy. Like Joe Buck (Jon Voigt) in John Schlesinger 1969 Oscar winner, Yussef arrives in the big city hopeless out of place. A mix up with the cab company relieves him of all of his money. Filled with visions (or delusions) of grandeur, he’s stuck with no friends, family, or cash and a limited amount of English before a chance encounter with Patrick, a young revolutionary, complete with red-starred cap, pulls him into the London underworld.

Comedy ensues.

Or at least enough to quiet the audience. The chatting woman behind me were annoyed before the play even began, an actors flashlight causing them to exasperatedly complain. Up front were a group of boys who had apparently come for a birthday party, and it only took one rebuke from their motherβ€” β€œPut that phone away!”— for them to quiet down. Before long they were laughing aloud.

And make no mistake, despite what the title might imply, Angry Young Man is funny. Christopher Daftsios (listed as Actor D in the playbill) is relegated to fiercely mugging for the audience, acting out everything from a dog to a mounted stag. The rest of the actors seem to take an almost perverse delight in describing a scene and then watching him hurry about and bending himself into odd shapes, his tongue frequently falling out of his mouth.

The central gimmick here is that Yussef is played by all four members of the cast (Christopher Daftsios, Rami Margron, Max Samuels and Nazli Sarpkaya), tagging in and out and different times as they do the incredibly difficult job of balancing him with the rest of the weirdos he encounters in the London underworld. This never quite gets old, each new scenario Yussef is thrust into bringing with it the logical question of how he’s going to get out of this one. Accidentally kill a neo-nazi? Uh oh. Fall in love, or rather lust, with your new friends belle? Yikes.

Everything in Angry Young Man is played broadly. Max Samuels pulls double duty as both our hero and a femme fatale, the transition marked by the comically over exaggerated ripping open of his shirt. Even the oversized, double breasted suits worn by each actor engulf them, rendering their collective Yussef ungainly and comical, as though his discomfort in this new world has seeped into his very being.

His discomfort is tangible. Swallowed by their costumes, each of the four actors on stage embody his bumbling, awkward persona. Like a kid who has dressed up in his dad’s clothes, the Yussef that blunders around on stage comes across as a hapless child desperately imitating an adult.

Yet as indignities continue to pile up, it becomes clear that Angry Young Man isn’t sure how it feels about Yussef or other immigrants like him. The desire for a better life is a constant, but even Yussef is played broadly, an unearned braggadocio frequently undercut by the realities of his situation. We sympathize with him as life continues to pile on, from sleeping in the rain to being pooped on by ducks to being cheated by the people that he thought were his friends.

However the constant humiliations are mined for cheap laughs as opposed to legitimate pathos. The result is that by the end of the film, it’s hard to tell exactly how you’re supposed to feel. Because despite its obvious humor and well intentioned message, Angry Young Man often comes across as confused. It wants to take aim at well-meaning but ultimately self serving liberals, like Patrick, who refer to Yussef as a project, a prop in their ultimately bourgeois attempts at revolution. Che Guevara is reduced to a punchline, the Left presented as aloof and ineffectual.

At the same time Yussef is frequently presented with the real threat of violence, especially once Patrick turns him over the skinheads he pissed off. The play wants to have things both ways. Neither side is good, and while this might provide exponentially bigger stakes for Yussef to navigate, it results in a play that feels thematically muddled.

It is not until the final moments that anything like a genuine, human moment occurs. Earlier Yussef encounters a young man, an immigrant like himself, who fled his home country after a local gang took an interest in him. He’s turned 18, and now the UK wants to kick him out. Unfortunately, stories like this are all to real, and just in like real life, Angry Young Man offers little resolution.

Ultimately the play ends with a call for peace. People, Angry Young Man, require help and understanding. Adults might find this saccharine and the moralizing might come across as simplistic, but given the play’s broadness, one is left hopeful that the well constructed humor welcomes a younger audience with whom its message might still resonate.

In the end, Angry Young Man cannot figure out who it’s for, children or the parents that brought them. Nonetheless it proves entertaining enough, just topical enough, to remain endearing. And that’s ok.

broadwayComedyplayurban stages
0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Nico Chapin

previous post
On The Scene: Milky Chance’s ‘Blossom’ Album Release Concert
next post
KAWS x Air Jordan 4 Release Date Announced

Related Posts

First Look: Inside Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth Makeover β€”...

October 6, 2025

Late Development Presents Jamz & Conversation Featuring Legendary...

October 5, 2025

‘Law & Order’ Pop Up Serves Delicious Fun

October 4, 2025

β€˜Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere’ β€” Tries to...

October 4, 2025

Ferrero Rocher’s Oculus Pop-Up Celebrates New Chocolate Squares

October 4, 2025

EXCLUSIVE: Stars Talk β€˜Blue Moon’ at New York...

October 4, 2025

Black Theatre United Hosts 3rd Annual Gala

October 4, 2025

Netflix’s “A House of Dynamite” Movie Premiere at...

October 4, 2025

An Evening with Avantgarde Refined TΓΌrkiye: A Celebration...

October 4, 2025

Adam Driver Would Do β€œWallpaper, Therapy, Anything” for...

October 3, 2025

Digital Cover No. 19

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

theknockturnal

Lifestyle. Music. Entertainment.
Info@theknockturnal.com
New Cover Out Now ⬇️

Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joa Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joachim Trier for their sixth cinematic journey, co-writing Sentimental Value, a poignant exploration of family, memory, and reconciliation. 

-
#Screenwriting #Storytelling #WritingForFilm #FilmWriting #NYFF2025 #NewYorkFilmFestival #IndieFilm
At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to l At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to life in Sentimental Value, portraying a character whose journey through family complexities and personal discovery resonates deeply. 

-
#RenateReinsve #NYFF #SentimentalValue #NoraBorg #FilmFestival #Actress
@nobledanceroslo at @thenyff shares his vision as @nobledanceroslo at @thenyff shares his vision as a director, bringing his story to life with precision, collaboration, and attention to every frame. 

The film reflects his dedication to emotion, storytelling, and cinematic craft. πŸŽ₯

-
#JoachimTrimmer #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #Director #Filmmaking
We spoke with @ingalilleaas at @thenyff about the We spoke with @ingalilleaas at @thenyff about the emotional process behind her latest film. ✨

-
#IngaIbsdotterLilleaas #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #Cinema
Poised, perceptive, and endlessly compelling β€” @ Poised, perceptive, and endlessly compelling β€” @ellefanning in conversation at this year’s @thenyff.

-
#ElleFanning #NYFF #NewYorkFilmFestival #FilmFestival #RedCarpet #Cinema
✨ From powerful panels to unforgettable performa ✨ From powerful panels to unforgettable performances, the 2025 #TeenVogueSummit brought together voices shaping fashion, culture, and activism today. πŸ’¬πŸŽΆ

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/2025-teen-vogue-summit-recap-full-of-fun-fashion-and-connection/

✍️: Zipporah Pruitt

-
#TeenVogue #TeenVogueSummit2025 #TeenVogueEvents
#TeenVogueCommunity #TeenVogueStyle
Visit the @Complex x @Aepsa_official Pop-Up for β€˜Rich Man’ in LA with The Knockturnal! βœ¨β€¨
From exclusive merch and photo cards to signatures and more β€” ~ 100% worth the visit 

⏰ Sept 16–17 | 11 AM – 7 PM PTβ€¨πŸ“ 433 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles

#Aespa #Complex #RichMan #KPopMerch #AespaInLA #KPopFans #Kpop #Karina #Giselle #Winter #NingNing
NYFW magic ✨ @aliceandolivia by Stacey Bendet tr NYFW magic ✨ @aliceandolivia by Stacey Bendet transformed the runway into a dazzling celebration of bold prints, playful silhouettes, and timeless style. From Surrogate’s Court to the city streets, the collection truly captured the spirit of the modern woman. πŸ’„

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/stars-stripes-and-alice-olivia-by-stacey-bendet/

✍️: ElizaBeth Taylor

-
#NYFW #AliceAndOlivia #StaceyBendet #RunwayStyle #FashionWeek
Some things are just a perfect matchβ€”milk & cook Some things are just a perfect matchβ€”milk & cookies, Oreos & a cold glass of milk… and @nickbarrotta on the red carpet celebrating 30 years of the iconic milk mustache. πŸ₯›πŸͺ

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/got-milk-celebrates-30-years-with-stars-and-everyday-californians/

✍️&🎀: Ashley Lopez

-
#GotMilk30 #GotMilk #NickBarrotta #TylerPerrysTheOval #MilkMustache
On the red carpet, Stranger Things star @priahferg On the red carpet, Stranger Things star @priahferguson spoke with us at the @gotmilk 30th Anniversary Milk Mustache Celebration, where the campaign unveiled its bold new focus on everyday Californians as the real icons. πŸ₯›βœ¨

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/got-milk-celebrates-30-years-with-stars-and-everyday-californians/

✍️&🎀: Ashley Lopez

-
#GotMilk30 #PriahFerguson #StrangerThings #MilkMustache #RedCarpet #GotMilk
First-time nominees dominated the 77th Emmys, turn First-time nominees dominated the 77th Emmys, turning the spotlight on breakout stars and fresh wins. 🎬πŸ₯‡βœ¨

Read about the rising talent redefining televisions biggest night.

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/emmy-awards/

✍️: Danielle Biondi

-
#Emmys #Emmy #EmmyAwards #Emmys2025 #EmmyWinner #Film #AwardWinning #AwardSeason
We had the honor of celebrating VMAs weekend with We had the honor of celebrating VMAs weekend with @bacardi and @mtv! πŸ’«
History met history last night πŸ—½πŸŽ¬βœ¨ The Ha History met history last night πŸ—½πŸŽ¬βœ¨

The Hamilton movie premiere transformed the Delacorte Theater into a stage of its own, as the original cast and creative team reunited to celebrate a story that changed Broadway forever. From the first note to the final bow, the revolution continues. πŸŽ­πŸ“œ

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/under-the-stars-at-the-delacorte-theater-hamilton-premiere-original-cast-in-attendance/

✍️: Lauren Wire

-
#Hamilton #Broadway #HamiltonMovie #DelacorteTheater #LinManuelMiranda #BroadwayLegends #StageToScreen #MusicalTheater
✨ Disney magic meets coffee culture β˜•πŸ­ @dis ✨ Disney magic meets coffee culture β˜•πŸ­ @disneyfamily x @lalalandkindcafe are serving up the sweetest collab of the season β€” from Mickey drink sleeves to Munchlings surprises 🎁 Don’t miss it before it’s gone Sept. 16!

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/mickey-friends-bring-whimsy-to-la-la-land-kind-cafe/

✍️: Ashley Lopez 

-
#Disney #LaLaLandKindCafe #DisneyCollab #DisneyMagic #CoffeeLovers #MickeyAndFriends #DisneyFoodies
From @iamcardib undeniable reign to @wutangclan ev From @iamcardib undeniable reign to @wutangclan everlasting impact, the 2025 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Awards celebrated the artists and executives shaping the culture today. 🎀🎸πŸ’₯

With honorees like @leonthomas and @gelo alongside hip-hop’s legends, the night was a reminder that the genre’s future is just as powerful as its past. 🀩

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/cardi-b-leon-thomas-gelo-wu-tang-clan-more-honored-at-2025-billboard-rb-hip-hop-power-players-awards/

✍️: Nishat Baig

-
#Billboard #RnB #HipHop #PowerPlayers #CardiB #WuTangClan #LeonThomas #Gelo #RnBMusic #HipHopCulture #MusicAwards
PSA!!! We have another #knockgiveaway and this tim PSA!!! We have another #knockgiveaway and this time it’s for tickets to see LU KALA πŸ’₯

We’re giving away a pair of tickets to see her at Mercury Lounge in New York City on September 10th! Join us as we dance the night away to some of her top hits like Pretty Girl Era and Hotter Now 🎢

To enter hit the link πŸ”— in our bio and fill out the form. Winners will be contacted through email! 

πŸ“MUST BE IN NEW YORK CITY
🎢 From EXO standout to solo powerhouse, @zkdlin 🎢 From EXO standout to solo powerhouse, @zkdlin brought charisma, control, and creativity to every second of his Shrine set.

Kai On Tour gave fans in LA a front-row seat to his evolution as an artist, and it was nothing short of iconic. πŸ‘

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/kai-on/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-

#KaiOnTour #KAI #KAIatTheShrine #KpopInLA #EXO #KpopSoloist #KpopConcert #KAI2025 #ShrineLA
πŸ—žοΈ Extra, extra! Go inside the newsroom with πŸ—žοΈ Extra, extra! Go inside the newsroom with β€œThe Paper” β€” the sharp new workplace comedy making headlines. πŸ–‹οΈ We sat down with the cast + creators in an exclusive video interview to talk inspiration, improv, and bringing chaos to the copy desk. 🎬✨

πŸ“Ί Watch the full interview now 

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/the-paper-puts-a-newsroom-spin-on-classic-workplace-comedy/

✍️: Alyssa Threadgill

-

#ThePaper #VideoInterview #WorkplaceComedy #BehindTheScenes #IndieTV #ComedySeries #CastInterview #OnSet #TVTalk #MakingTheShow #WritersRoom #BTS #NewSeries
πŸŽ₯✨ Austin Butler and the cast of Caught Steal πŸŽ₯✨ Austin Butler and the cast of Caught Stealing open up about stepping into this gritty new story, the challenges on set, and why this film is unlike anything they’ve done before.

Catch our exclusive video interview now!

πŸ”—: https://theknockturnal.com/austin-butler-cast-talk-new-movie-caught-stealing-video/

✍️: OJ Williams

-
#AustinButler #CaughtStealing #MovieInterview #ExclusiveInterview #FilmFeature #BehindTheScenes #Hollywood #OnSet #NewMovies #EditorialContent #CastInterview
Vegas was just crowned the No. 1 nightlife spot in Vegas was just crowned the No. 1 nightlife spot in the world. We put our detective skills to work at @resortsworldlv to see if it lives up to the hype 🎰 πŸͺ©πŸ₯‚πŸ’ƒπŸ•Ί

Read the full review on our website ✍️ 

#lasvegas #resortsworld #hilton #sliving #zoox #zouk #stubbornseed #alle #nightlife #vegas #elderbrook
Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

Β© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media

The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch