Liars

Liars brings the ravages of alcoholism to centre stage. The play illustrates the effects of addictive behavior over long periods of time, and the impact of dysfunctional parents on their children. At the end of the play, the juxtaposition of Lenny's positive attitude and Jace's negative one make a poignant statement about personal choices and are an excellent springboard for audience follow-up discussions.

Lenny and Jace are classmates. Despite apparently different personalities, they have one thing in common: each have an alcoholic parent. When Lenny is not in school, she spends her time doing household chores and looking after her alcoholic mother. Jace must contend with his father's alcohol-induced blackouts and changes in personality between bouts of being sober and intoxicated. Jace's reaction to his father's abuse is low self-esteem and motivation.

Lenny, used to taking care of her mother, is drawn to Jace, feeling she can help him and take care of him. Lenny and Jace's big date is ruined, however, when Jace's father gets drunk and reneges on his promise to let Jace have the car. After the ensuing confrontation, Jace storms out, swearing never to return.

On their date, Lenny and Jace share their experiences of living with alcoholism in their homes. In an imaginative scene-within-a-scene, they each envision what it could be like if their home life were happier. Telling each other their stories, the teens realize that they can confide in each other. However, Jace comes to the conclusion that they will never be able to change their parents' destructive behaviour; Lenny, on the other hand, commits to dealing with the denial of alcohol abuse at home. 

The next time the two teens meet, Lenny has realized she cannot fight the battle against alcoholism on her own and invites Jace to join her to get some outside help. However, Jace has found comfort in other addictions, leaving Lenny to discover her own path to serenity.

Recommended Audience: For Teenagers

Themes

• Family Relationships
• Substance Abuse
• Addiction