4.5 out of 5 stars

School lunch may not be very satisfying, but “Spread,” centering on four Latino high-school freshmen meeting over their midday meal, is a delicious feast of a play. Jesús I. Valles’ writing details the life of teenagers as they share frivolous jokes, make social missteps and offer admissions of surprising depth. The performances are exhilarating, capturing the raw emotions of adolescence. Most striking is the camaraderie among the actors, thanks to Tatyana-Marie Carlo’s confident direction. Rodrigo Escalante’s fantastic set also places the audience fully in the school environment. The play’s 100 minutes fly by, but an intermission would be nice. — Justin McCallum

At INTAR Theatre, through March 22, 2026; intartheatre.org. (Review date: March 3, 2026)