‘Speech’ a babble of issues, crises

Let’s see. There’s a horny young gay kid cruising for sex on the Internet. A strident high school newspaper reporter who wants to bring down the mayor for having sex with underage boys. And a wildly overwrought thespian who wages war on her drama teacher after failing to get the part she wants in “The Crucible.”

Sounds like the makings of one hot play.

If only Stephen Karam’s “Speech & Debate” lived up to its steamy potential. A modern-day witch hunt about a group of technologically savvy, sexually curious high school kids in Salem, Ore., the play —- which opened Wednesday night at Marietta’s Theatre in the Square —- bubbles over with too many issues, agendas and identity crises.

Karam strains to connect the dots by having his angst-ridden teens form a speech and debate club, and their competition-style scenes provide the structure for this coming-of-age tale. But less than two years after the play’s New York run, its use of Internet chat rooms and live podcasts feels more dated than innovative.

That said, the playwright manages to create some zany, one-of-a-kind characters in geeky cub reporter Solomon (Nick Arapoglou), sexually adventurous Howie (Jeremy Ledbetter) and drama diva Diwata (Maria Sager).

Solomon’s overzealous journalism may have something to do with his own self persecution complex, and Arapoglou nails the insecurities of this nerdy Izod-wearing young man with his terrific kit of acting details. Sager’s over-the-top Diwata —- who rewrites “The Crucible” as a musical and worships at the altar of Idina Menzel —- is fun to watch, but the actress’ frenetic energy nearly glosses over her character’s vulnerability.

The most successful performance here is that of Ledbetter, a Kennesaw State University student who portrays the sarcastic Howie with naturalistic charm.

Karam’s premise —- a trio of adolescents masking their troubles with mind games, sexual experimentation and quirky theatrical gags —- comes across like an R-rated “High School Musical.” But for all its quirky charms, the play’s explosion of ideas can’t disguise the fact that it’s a wicked little mess.

THEATER REVIEW

“Speech & Debate”

Grade: C+

Through May 3. $15-$20. Theatre in the Square, Alley Stage, 11 Whitlock Ave., Marietta. 770-422-8369; theatreinthesquare.com.