The Interestings

In the 1970s, six artistic, creative, confused teenagers bond at a summer camp for the performing arts. Over the ensuing decades, their friendship and identities are tested by the ups and downs of life: career successes and spectacular failures, secrets and jealousies and betrayals, life-threatening illness, and a crime that makes one of them a fugitive. Jen Tullock gives a tour de force performance, creating authentic, distinct voices for each and every major character—both their insecure, stammering teenage versions and their more mature, adult incarnations—as well as the supporting cast, including an Icelandic camp employee, two Moonies who recruit one of the friends into the cult, and a grizzled Vietnam veteran. Tullock is especially impressive during heart-to-heart conversations or angry arguments, flipping effortlessly back and forth between character voices and, more importantly, conveying each character’s passionate, heartfelt point of view. This is a must-listen performance. A Riverhead hardcover. (Apr.)