3.5 out of 5 stars

"Youth in Flames" views Hong Kong's 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations through a personal lens. Naive, party-happy expat student Millie initially is more focused on her own issues than the larger conflict; she joins the protests with a classmate on condition they stop at her favorite bar first to ensure a fun evening. Author Mimi Martin plays all the parts (under Jessica Wiley's direction) with clarity and increasing intensity as events turn tragic for Millie's friends. But it's Millie's journey. And in the end her narrow perspective on the larger issues is both the play's interesting distinction and its limitation. — Adam Z. Horvath

Part of Brits Off Broadway at 59e59 Theaters, through June 28, 2026; 59e59.org. (Review date: June 16, 2026)