"Hey Little Walter" at the Playwrights Horizon Theater, directed by Mark Brokaw, is an exceptional evening of eye opening entertainment. The script, written by Clara Debbie Alleyne is a wonderful effort by a young playwrights first-off Broadway show.

Walter and his family are a common example of life in the Brooklyn Ghetto. He is pressured by his best friend, Rakim, to help him earn money by dealing drugs. At first Walter has his mind set on his answer and turns down the offer. However, when he becomes more aware of his families financial problems, the offer seems more tempting. He is lured by the things that money can get him: a girlfriend, designer clothes, and a fancy car. Unless, he enters the dark world of drug dealing. Are Walters dreams worth the price he must pay?

The chilling effect of the stark sets, contemporary music, and realistic language make the audience feel as if they are apart of the scene. The fact that this is written from the authors personal experiences gave a strong truth to the conflicts presented. Although "Hey Little Walter" was directed by the renown Mark Brokaw, I felt that a more urban director would have further enhanced the author’s point of view.

Despite the lack of ethnic direction, the graffiti sets, street wear, and ghetto language of the cast gave realism to this play. This authentic description of the lives of these New Yorkers is a strong contrast to the life my friends and I know. What moved me, and will move other young adults is the similarity between my dreams and goals and those of the characters and at the same time, how differently we go about arriving at them.