UofD Mercy’s ‘The Grown Ups’ Challenges, Chills, and Captivates
University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company’s latest production of The Grown Ups by Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox, directed with eerie precision by the chair of the Department of Performing Arts at the university, Andrew Papa, is a triumph of ensemble theater and immersive atmosphere. This genre-bending campfire thriller is tailor-made for college stages—blurring the lines between realism and allegory, adolescence and adulthood, fear and fantasy. Under Papa’s deft direction, the production becomes more than just a camp story gone awry. It’s a haunting meditation on authority, uncertainty, and the fragile scaffolding of civilization.
[Warning: Spoilers from University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company’s production of The Grown Ups are below!]
A spooky campfire story of real-life implications lies within The Grown Ups
The Grown Ups centers around a group of camp counselors grappling with the slow unraveling of the world beyond the firelight. Developed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world felt chaotic, this play explores the loss of adolescence, as these four camp counselors and their assistant camp director are forced to grow up too soon in a quickly changing world. Nothing in this world is ever guaranteed, as they will soon learn, with the real world inches closer to the camp, bringing with it real danger.
The genius of the script lies in its subtle tension. There’s no apocalypse onstage, no monstrous villain. Instead, we hear the whispers of chaos through headset radio and secondhand reports. It’s all suggestion—and that’s precisely what makes it terrifying. The fear of what’s outside becomes a mirror for the fear within. The fear within The Grown Ups is only heightened by the parallels to our own reality at the moment. What might have once been seen as ridiculous (seriously, who fights over a pineapple?) turns sinister so quickly, as division rises amongst people. What inspired Henriques and Fox to write this play is still apparent, making The Grown Ups one of the most important pieces of theater currently in the world.
University of Detroit Mercy’s production shines through direction and staging
Papa wisely leans into the script’s naturalistic pacing, never rushing the quiet moments or overplaying the looming dread. Instead, the production breathes, trusts its silences, and weaponizes its stillness. In doing so, it allows the existential questions at the heart of the piece to surface organically: Who do we become when no one is watching? What happens when “the grown-ups” don’t show up?
The ensemble cast is uniformly strong, though there were a notable number of lines being tripped over. Based on what seemed to be nerves, the dialogue at the show’s beginning was fast, making some lines difficult to understand, but gradually slowed as the production seemed to find its natural rhythm. The dynamics among the cast, however, felt lived-in and authentic. Their conversations—half-silly, half-profound—feel ripped from real-life summer camp circles.
The scenic design is deceptively simple—a few logs, a campfire, and some forestry—yet each item is charged with meaning. Seth Amadei’s lighting plays a pivotal role in building the mood, shifting from warm glows to stark shadows as the situation spirals. The use of space, especially in moments where characters drift into the dark perimeter of the stage, evokes the terror of the unknown.
Where some university productions shy away from ambiguity, this one leans into it. Papa’s direction makes no attempt to explain away the mysteries, trusting the audience to sit with the discomfort. That choice pays off. By the final blackout, we’re left with more questions than answers—and that’s precisely the point. The world doesn’t always offer closure.
Catch The Grown Ups before this sun sets on this production!
In a cultural moment dominated by moral binaries and clean narratives, The Grown Ups reminds us that chaos rarely announces itself—and that sometimes, the scariest thing is not knowing what to do next. University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company’s production doesn’t just entertain. It lingers, provokes, and demands reflection. In short, it’s everything university theater should aspire to be: bold, unsettling, and unafraid to get lost in the woods.
The University of Detroit Mercy Theatre Company’s The Grown Up is now playing through April 13th at The Marlene Boll Theatre! With only three more performances, make sure to get your tickets now! You can find more information about this show and other past and future productions from UofD Mercy on their webpage! Have you checked out this production of The Grown Ups? What are your thoughts on Simon Henriques and Skylar Fox’s play? Let us know on social media @boxseatbabes!
Exclusive Interview: Andrew Papa and Gavin Rapuzzi from UofD Mercy’s The Grown Ups
