Acclaimed storyteller and New York Times published essayist Lisa Lewis’ SCHOOLED gets the New York International Fringe Festival treatment this year, and it is not to be missed. The three-character play sees a polished cast duke it out in a thrilling show about sexual politics set in a university, where class versus privilege, young versus old, art versus commerce and narcissism and entitlement run amok.

Claire (played by Lilli Stein) is a 22-year-old student at a prestigious art school in New York City. A long way from her humble beginnings, she finds herself under the tutelage of film professor Andrew Owens (Quentin Maré), a highly successful, but disillusioned, screenwriter. Claire’s wealthy, “golden boy” boyfriend Jake (Stephen Friedrich) is also taking Andrew’s “Dirty Realism” screenwriting class, and is none too pleased when he discovers that the older man has taken a keen interest in the very attractive young woman.

Andrew doesn’t care much for the naturally talented and charismatic Jake, either. (“Beware of the Golden Boys,” he warns. “They tarnish.”) Sucked into a whirlpool of jealousy, tension builds in Claire’s relationship with Jake. Not only is her working script improving under Andrew’s watchful guidance, but she finds herself in competition with her boyfriend for a prestigious grant, over which Andrew presides as a member of the nominating committee.

Directed by James Kautz, SCHOOLED is a taut drama that is both psychologically thrilling and laugh-out-loud funny. The play is multilayered, unabashed and stinging with the truth of an insider’s knowledge of the film business and the ferocious, cutthroat existence that is NYC life and what it takes to make it in the Big Apple. An entertaining ride with broad range appeal,  SCHOOLED is ultimately a work that leaves its audience to wonder who, if anyone, actually has the upper hand in modern day, tech-savvy society.