cast of “The Wolves”Nine girls navigate the world around them in the University Players production of “The Wolves,” opening Nov. 1 in Essex Hall Theatre.

University Players show features female fighters on the soccer field

The University Players will raise the curtain on a modern piece that offers audiences a peek into the lives of today’s teenagers, Friday, Nov. 1, in Essex Hall Theatre.

The Wolves, written by Sarah DeLappe in 2016, chronicles the evolution of a girls’ soccer team over the course of a season.

The play opens on the sidelines as the girls are firing on all cylinders, talking over one another in a cacophony of nervous energy before the match — discussing everything from world politics and feminine health to the upcoming battle on the field.

The story that follows offers a chance to laugh and cry in equal measures, with a wild journey ending with a dramatic twist that brings the girls together as a tightly-knit family.

Director Heather Davies highlights the importance of the performance.

The Wolves explores themes of politics, citizenship, community, and ‘the warrior spirit.’ It also has echoes of Greek theatre in it,” she says. “Many of the significant events occur off-stage and we witness the impact of those events on stage.”

Davies returns to the University Players fold after having previously directed Love and Human Remains and God of Carnage for the company. She is excited about The Wolves, a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize.

“It’s a deftly written play from a new, dynamic American playwright that has an epic emotional scale: from war to teenage hormones and much in between,” Davies says.

The Wolves runs through Nov. 10. Wednesday through Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. and matinées Saturday and Sunday are at 2 p.m. Order tickets online at www.UniversityPlayers.com or by calling 519-253-3000, ext. 2808.