During the audition process for LUNCHTIME! we heard the phrase, “This character really reminds me of myself in elementary school.” from countless actors. Regardless of which character they were referring to, many auditioners seemed to see themselves clearly in the characters and connect with their experiences. I found that fascinating since Maddy (playwright) drew inspiration for her piece largely from time spent at her Montessori school in Northern California. You would think this would make the play inaccessible and hyper-specific but instead it is a powerful example of how the personal experience is the universal experience. The more vulnerable and specific an artist is in their work, the more elements of humanity shine through that all people from differing backgrounds and walks of life can relate to. I knew that working with her on this project would be an exciting opportunity to get a group of people together and explore the singular fever dream that is being in fifth grade. No matter your background, an elementary school lunch period is something we’ve all experienced and the play invites audience members to reflect on fifth grade and all of its embarrassing and formative glory. At its core, LUNCHTIME! is a play that puts to words the inner life of prepubescence and challenges the audience to remember experiences they had as a kid that shaped them into the people they are today. I encourage audience members to be on the lookout for themes of touch,
play, and humiliation throughout the piece and recall how those same themes shaped their own childhood experience.