Olive is a 16-year-old working in her parents’ deli. She is smart, curious, and wise beyond her years. She is also grounded—a second-generation Canadian stuck in the world between her parents’ overprotection and her friend’s desire to get out and live the hashtag life.
In Geordie Theatre’s production of Fear of Missing Out, we follow Olive as she navigates her inner struggles while trying to write a piece for her school paper about a recent string of harassments at local bus stops. As she examines her own experiences, she also tries to find her place in friendships with Insta-obsessed T-Star as well as Vincent, an aspiring forensic scientist on the autism spectrum.
Funny, poignant, at times infuriating, and touching on key issues that today’s generation seems to be so much better at spotting, Fear of Missing Out provides the audience with priceless reminders about how to spot harassment, what consent is, ways to speak up, and how to navigate all the grey areas in between. And of course how to find independence and form your own identity.
This is an excellent piece to bring your teens and tweens to. Or, like me, your 10-year-old who is just around the corner from this complex reality, ready to be armed with the right tools to navigate her way through.
In fact, I recruited my daughter Sarah to give her own review of the show—which she took in with riveted attention, thoughtful questions, and her own conclusions.
before the show.
Fear of Missing Out plays Sunday February 9 at 4 p.m. before heading back out on its high-school tour. Get your tickets here.
