Gwen Powers

Jonah Hundert and Sofia Banzhaf in WORKhouse Theatre's production of Gwen Powers. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

Teenaged girls can be reckless. But then, so can emotionally immature adult males. Which is more dangerous? Michael Goldlist explores this morally precarious terrain in his new play Gwen Powers, a dark comedy about a complicated friendship between a teacher and his student, now on stage in the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace.

Presented by WORKhouse Theatre, the production stars Jonah Hundert as Jeff, a popular young teacher with a drinking problem, and Sofia Banzhaf in her theatrical debut as the title character, the sexy and highly manipulative Gwen Powers. After a drunken run-in with his 17-year-old student at a bar, Jeff is concerned that he might have said or done something inappropriate. He confides in his more responsible best friend, Tom (Jan Weir), who also happens to be the school's vice principal, promising to clean up his act.

But when Gwen shows up at Jeff's apartment, convinced she can help him overcome his problem, the confused teacher just can't say no. He allows her to stay, first for a couple of hours, and then for the weekend. It's a seemingly innocent hangout (she sleeps on the couch), but as time passes the line between public and private becomes increasingly blurred. In the end, we are left to wonder who is really in the position of power.

At two hours and 15 minutes, the production is a tad on the long side. The script could use tightening, and the audience could benefit from more background information on the cunning Gwen Powers. As it stands, her character is somewhat two-dimensional. There's definitely room for further development there. But Goldlist is on to something interesting, especially with his honest characterization of the lonely Jeff.

Director Zachary Florence gets committed, if uneven, performances out of the cast—all three actors connect with the material most convincingly in the second half, when the characters are at their most vulnerable. Overall, the petite Banzhaf makes a big impression. She is definitely a talent to watch.

Catch Gwen Powers until April 6 in the Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace. Visit workhousetheatre.com for more information and to buy tickets.