Jay (Justin Elizabeth Sayre) is cool. Most of the time, he’s flyin’ high on pills and booze, but this high schooler is quite popular, well-liked, and ambiguously gay. It helps that his life is accompanied by a fabulous trio of piano (Tracy Stark) , bass(Matt Scharfglass) , and drums (Don Kelly).
How does he do it?
Sayre, as the narrator and main character, will tell you in their excellent solo piece, My Beatnik Youth.
Sayre has become a mainstay in the downtown cabaret scene, earning a Bistro award and MAC nominations for their monthly show called The Meeting. They have also written several shows for television.
It’s a treat, then, to see them in this solo show, written by and starring Sayre. Director Fempath and associate director Karina Camile Parker lend a gentle hand to the narrative, which begins with a carefree teen and ends with a button of self-discovery and growth.
In a recorded message at the top of the show, Sayre informs us that this is not autobiographical although there are some similarities.
Their leading man, Jay, came of age in the nineties and is a fan of the beatniks: Kerouac, Burroughs, Ginsburg and others. He carries their works with them like religious texts and quotes them as much as possible.
After a life-threatening car accident, Jay is forced into a mental hospital where he meets a wide array of lively characters, including a roommate that talks incessantly followed by one who barely utters a word.
Jay was raised right before smartphones and social media accelerated the decline of mental health wellness in teens, yet his actual social construct informed many of his decisions. Even then, life seemed grand on the surface. Beneath it, a whole other story of desperation.
Sayre’s band, led with astute precision by Stark, picks up every cue and is the yin to Sayre’s yang. This trio is so good that one feels like they get both a monologue and top notch jazz concert in one.
Sayre’s tale is hugely relatable, whether we ran with the “in-crowd” or were tossed away like outcasts growing up. It’s a beautifully crafted work and is especially touching that they have dedicated it to Nex Benedict.
My Beatnik Youth is now playing at LaMama's Club (74a E. 4th Street) NYC through March 24th. For tickets and information, click here : lamama.org, my beatnik youth 2024
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