“Acquaintances on our way to strangers.”

“Incognito” by Janet Allard, provides an in-depth look at key elements of the human condition; specifically looking into the transition from youth into the beginnings of adulthood, and the mental/emotional “growing pains” that come along with it. 

In this play, we see two highschoolers, Jim and Tilly, on the verge of (and in this case, hours away from) going out into the world and beginning a new chapter of their lives- attempting to grow and understand the world around them. As we follow the journey of these two characters, we are pulled into many different directions and into many different worlds of thought. In one world we find an intimidating and frightening sense unfamiliarity, newness, and change- in which these characters, beneath it all, may be clinging to anything they find familiar. However, In another sense of this action, we find ourselves also pulled into a world of anticipation and excitement, in which we see the tying up of loose ends, the finishing of unfinished business, and ultimately, the leaving without regret. 

Through this play, we experience a wide variety of the many manifestations and changes in Jim and Tilly’s relationship as we dig deeper and deeper. This gradual reveal, disclosing more and more of themselves to one another, develops feelings of vulnerability between these two characters that builds through the play’s action.