“Sentences” at The Larking House

Friendship, Grief, and Growth-- Ten Years in the Telling

By Harrison Tate-Pascua

Ten years after its initial conception, The Larking House is premiering “Sentences,” a play written by its co-founder and managing director, Matthew Hayashi. The production, which marks the play’s world premiere, is directed by Larking House’s technical director and co-founder, Tony Sanchez.

The play follows four high school-aged boys-- Will, Laurel, Daniel, and Michael-- as they navigate the aftermath of their friend Taylor’s tragic passing. Their grieving process becomes more complicated when it comes to light that one of them may have played a role in Taylor’s death. “Sentences” is a memory play that blurs the line between hypermagical surrealism and harsh reality. The world of the play is loose and dreamlike, while the relationships are rooted in realism.

From Left: Josh Causley as "Daniel", Jonathan Herrera as "Michael" and William Thomas as "Will" (Photo by Sidney Aptaker)

Hayashi initially wrote “Sentences” in a 2014 playwriting class as a ten-minute, one-act dark comedic farce. That version took place in a prison, focusing on three inmates dealing with the aftermath of a brawl in which a guard was killed. Since then, Hayashi has shifted the setting from a prison to a high school, making the story more reflective of his own experiences with male friendships and mental health.

“I was feeling dark and sardonic, and a little dejected in my life at that time,” said Hayashi. “So, in rewriting it ten years later, I kind of wanted to hone in on and isolate the reason why I wrote it in the first place, and write about similar circumstances that I was living through that caused me to feel this way and write a more honest story, because I’ve never been to prison.”

Even with the numerous changes already made to the play, “Sentences” is still ever-evolving. Sanchez notes that throughout the rehearsal process, the cast has discovered new layers and moments of vulnerability that neither he nor Hayashi had previously imagined-- moments they believe are stronger than anything they could have written on their own.

From Left: Coleman Blue Summers as "Laurel" William Thomas as "Will" (Photo by Sidney Aptacker)

Hayashi and Sanchez explore the theme of violence in a nuanced way throughout “Sentences.” The characters are frequently in conflict with one another, and within the context of adolescent male friendships, emotional repression manifests as a combative nature. For these boys, violence becomes one of the few outlets available for processing their emotions. “I see violence in a kind of beautiful way in this specific treatment of the piece. In order to have resolution, you have to have conflict,” said Hayashi. “Violence can lead to new beginnings, or beauty, or a newfound sense of appreciation about things.”

Being ten years in the making, “Sentences” holds a special place in the hearts of Hayashi and Sanchez. The two first met at Fullerton College nearly a decade ago. Since then, they've worked closely together-- from restaurants to theatre festivals-- eventually co-founding Larking House in 2020 with Lizzy McCabe. The key to their enduring personal and professional relationship is their ability to be direct with one another. They support each other while also being unafraid to offer hard truths when necessary.

“Sentences” is as old as Hayashi and Sanchez’s friendship, and their deep involvement in the play makes it personally meaningful. Hayashi has woven his own experiences into the story, making its exploration of mental health, growth, and adversity deeply personal. Though the story stems from Hayashi’s life, Sanchez also finds a strong connection to its characters and themes-- especially those related to grief, mental health, and feeling trapped in adolescence.

William Thomas as "Will" (Photo by Sidney Aptacker)

“Upon reading the new iterations… it’s a lot of things that I struggled with and had very similar feelings and battles with when I was at a really young age” said Sanchez. “It holds very near and dear to who I am as a person.” 

“Sentences” is special not only in its treatment of topics like male adolescence, mental health, grief, and violence, but also because it stands as a testament to Hayashi and Sanchez’s understanding of each other and their lasting bond.

Hayashi and Sanchez hope that audiences will leave “Sentences” with a sense of catharsis, and feel more comfortable reaching out to the people they love. “My biggest message that I want people to take away is… feeling comfortable and feeling safe going to your friends and seeking that help and those reassurances,” said Sanchez.

Harrison Tate-Pascua (he/she) is an actor, director, playwright, and co-founder of Ye Olde Theatre Eaters, an OC-based theatre non-profit dedicated to making art accessible to all. Passionate about Shakespeare and inclusive storytelling, Harrison advocates for theatre that welcomes everyone, regardless of background. 

“Sentences”

The Larking House 

Bette Aitken theatre arts Center

5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA

May 16 - 25, 2025

www.TheLarkingHouse.com