A Better Chance

Through a strongly established main character, the audience is transported to the world of LARRY WOODY. If not for the story's very strong premise, its characterizations would perhaps be its greatest strength, breathing life into the 1960s through Larry's coming of age journey and those he meets along the way on his pursuit of knowledge, acceptance and success. The character of Larry, in particular, is dynamic and familiar. We see how powerful his intellect is while also seeing the playful, child-like side of him and how he doesn't take anything too seriously. Another strength of this script is its tie to history. The inclusion of important events in the American Civil Rights Movement is incredibly relevant to Larry's story and the story of America, as a whole. It informs how Larry navigates his adolescence and how he interacts with his new life at St. Paul's School, which is far different than the life he had always known growing up in Baltimore. Observing the differences between how white people exist in these spaces in comparison to how black and brown people do is extremely important as well. Issues of classism and racism are also explored.