We all have that friend that we remember fondly that we knew in junior high and high school. They are the ones who got us through those awful years of school, that we shared our secrets with and wanted to sometimes share more with them if only things had worked out differently for both. Malakhow takes us through one of those friendships with such poetry that we can we can still see all the possibilities of lifetimes lived and those not.

A Picture Of Two Boys is a beautiful, heartrending portrait of friendship, adolescent pain and the way life pushes people together and pulls them apart. Malakhow’s characters feel organic and specific, their relationship both archetypal and nuanced, and the play itself lands emotional punches that sting. I love the contrast between Markey and Pete and their older counterparts and the way the script helps you understand how each boy grew into the man they became. Excellent play, not to be missed.

What a rich and multilayered exploration of the effects of sexual abuse on two boys and on the men they become. From the earliest beats these two boys are completely engaging and the effects of the racism they suffer are manifest. As more revelations ensue their complex relationship becomes even more gripping and their tentative steps toward healing even more uplifting. This is a play of great skill and heart. It deserves to be seen widely.