“One Final Beautiful Impossible Year” unfolds as a familiar mix of love, tragedy and triumph, offering moments of brilliance alongside stretches that feel rigid and uneven.
The production held five performances across April 3-4 and 10-12 at the Citrus College Little Theatre. The play was written by Nick Dillenburg in association with director Aubrey Saverino and Citrus College students, showing a collaborative operation that shaped both the script and the themes.
The story follows four best friends – – Harper, Olivia, Selina and Mack – – who make an oath to stay single to ensure their final year of high school is the best one. Each friend carries a unique role to the group: Harper, the self appointed-leader whose confidence can be seen as delusion; Olivia, the academic with lengthy goals and passion toward her beliefs; Selina, the socially connected friend with a large social media following; and Mack, who comes out as non-binary during the play and stands out as the group’s most insightful and rational despite often being disregarded.
Each of the friends open a scene with a personal monologue, offering insight into their inner thoughts and motivations. These moments help the audience understand what each of them hopes to achieve and how they deal with the pressures around them. The monologues also create a straight line of connection between the character and the audience. Selina – performed by Mia Robles – stands out in particular; her delivery is the most emotionally charged, extracting a level of compassion and empathy that the other monologues don’t fully reach.
While the monologues provided meaningful insight, several ran longer than necessary, with sections that felt repetitive. At times, the actresses circle the same ideas, creating moments of redundancy where a more concise approach might have solidified the overall effect. It is possible the playwright intended to mirror the way teenagers revolve the same emotions from different angles, but even with that intent, the pacing intermittently drags.
Even with said pacing issues, the production finds liveliness in its comedic beat.
One of the production’s funniest moments took place during the Halloween sequence. As the group prepares for a party, a wave of extras in full costume rushes the stage, and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” kicks in as they launch into the iconic choreography. Another consistent source of humor came from the character Amandifer – played by Maddy Hughes – whose quirk of taking photos at the worst possible moments frequently draws laughs from across the audience.
The dialogue, however, lacks in several scenes. Certain exchanges feel excessively timed and rehearsed, creating moments where the responses sound less like an actual conversation and more like planned cues. The chemistry among several characters is inconsistent, and the romantic scenes, in particular, come across as flatter than intended, leaving a lot to be desired. The issue becomes even more prevalent in group scenes, where the pacing urges a chain of cues rather than a cohesive conversation.
The dynamic between Mack – played by Syd Lozano – and Dante – played by Nick Mandala – provide a noticeable difference. Their dialogue flows with ease and authenticity that the other interactions sometimes lack, causing their exchanges to have a sense of genuine connection. They aren’t romantically linked like the other friends, but their bond is strengthened by a mutual understanding of what it feels like to be overlooked. Their conversations about hidden talents, unspoken frustrations and aspirations bring a realism that uplifts their moments together.
Even with its flaws, the production shows the ambition and communal spirit of Citrus College Theatre Program.
Overall, “One Final Beautiful Impossible Year” is a heartfelt but inconsistent production. Its strongest portions, strong monologues and the genuine connection between Mack and Dante, prevail even with the pacing issues and inconsistent dialogue holding the show back. The production may not have reached its full potential, but its most profound moments still resonate.
