The Cast Photo by Joan Marcus

Award winning designer Beowulf Boritt devises a larger than life barn for this show, featuring floor to ceiling wooden boards holding a variety of bridles and halters. Bettis grew up in rural Colorado and she takes us where the girls are sometimes: sweet, nasty, supportive, undermining, revealing, self-doubting–you name it. All the actors are thoroughly convincing, dynamic, and emotive–a treat to watch.

Mr. K (Teddy Cañez) is their instructor who puts them through paces so they will be able to compete at an upcoming FAA convention. Winning and taking home a plaque is the ultimate goal, but joys and sorrows define the journey elevating this production, which is snappy from the get-go.

falcon girls, during its first hour is fun and funny. The characters introduce themselves, bounce around, allow jealousies to surface and, for example, refuse to warmly include H (Gabrielle Policano), a new girl who just moved to town. Beverlee (Liza Fernandez) is her single mother who works all the time but tries to look out for her daughter. Dan (Juan Sebastián Cruz) is the boy who immediately takes a liking to her.

If the initial act is a blast of energy, the second features some of the same, with several urgent and/or quieter scenes. Just after intermission costume designer Micah Ohno dresses the girls in an array of bedtime attire, as they are all talking on landline telephones. This is a perfectly vivid snapshot of time and place and one truly feels like an eavesdropper, which, in this case is all to the good.

The girls are 14 or so and, typically sooner rather than later, conversations turn to sex as in who has or will have it as well as implications and ramifications. Additionally, Jesus and religion factor into their evolving lives. Carly (Alyssa Marek) becomes pregnant and H (Gabrielle Policano) has already been there herself. Bettis writes their original dialogue with perception and empathy. These moments are immersive and precious.

This show has something for everyone, including Joyce Ciesil's original music and up-tempo charming versions of Cole Porter's "Don't Fence Me In." The cast, at Mr. K's urging, combine voices resplendently.

Hilary Bettis is a prolific, gifted writer who begins her note in the playbill with "For most of my life, I've felt ashamed of who I am. I've felt insecure and invisible." A person whose early life centered around horses and chickens, she now writes acclaimed plays and television series scripts. She received the 2019 Writers Guild of American Award for her contributions to TV's "The Americans." Director May Adrales often facilitates world premieres and here she skillfully blends sensitivity with humor as she unveils the lives of these young teenagers. She also encourages the physical and it is Juan Sebastián Cruz, as Dan, who demonstrates some energized, agile gymnastic moves.

This is very much a rich piece about adolescents trying to find themselves, searching for identity, coping with loneliness even amid chatter. You need not have been raised in a small farm town to have been there. Bettis wisely goes with what she knows for her story and theme. Yale Rep first workshopped and developed this play at its Binger Center for New Theatre before opening its current season with it. It is fully absorbing from start to finish and time will fly as you watch it.

falcon girls runs through November 2, 2024, at Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel St., New Haven CT. For tickets and information, please call 203-432-1234 or visit yalerep.org.