Affluenza Review: Noah Schnapp Can't Save This Stage Disaster 2026

In our Affluenza review, we dissect why Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp cannot save this baffling stage disaster. The play, written and directed by Andy Sandberg, begins with a car crash and quickly becomes a pile-up of incoherent ideas.

Affluenza Review: A Promising Premise Squandered

The play opens with Dylan, the son of a filthy rich family, played by Netflix star Noah Schnapp. Dylan has killed two people while drink-driving and injured several more. His parents, at their Hamptons home, are hashing out his defence with a hotshot lawyer. They deny he did anything wrong – “people died, he didn’t kill them” – and throw money at the problem in hope it goes away. All the while, 16-year-old Dylan plays Nintendo upstairs.

An original legal defence is invoked, along the lines of the poor little rich boy suffering from “affluenza”, a psychological malaise in which a crime becomes the fault of wealthy parents who have failed to teach their progeny right or wrong. It is an intriguing setup with some parallels to the hit-and-run case involving teenager Harry Dunn and Anne Sacoolas. Its moral dilemma is promising, its echoes of victim culture resonant.

Noah Schnapp's Performance in Affluenza

Noah Schnapp, known for his role as Will Byers in Stranger Things, makes his stage debut here. Unfortunately, his performance is one of the few elements that feels grounded. He brings a believable teenage detachment to Dylan, but the script gives him little to work with. As the play progresses, his character is sidelined, and Schnapp’s talent is wasted.

The rest of the cast, including Rupert Young, who plays the lawyer in the first half and an older Dylan in the second, struggle with the bizarre tonal shifts. The direction by Sandberg is erratic, veering from legal drama to surreal comedy without warning.

Affluenza's Baffling Plot Twists

Just as we are set to watch the court case play out, it is reported to be over. Where to go from here? Under Sandberg’s direction, it screeches around a corner, on to the highway of the truly bizarre. The plot has moved on several decades after the interval. Dylan, now played by Rupert Young, is a middle-aged man and divorcee, while Schnapp now plays a different character entirely.

This jarring shift destroys any emotional investment. The play tries to satirize wealth and privilege but ends up a muddled mess. The second half introduces new characters and subplots that go nowhere, leaving the audience confused and frustrated.

Comparison: Affluenza vs. Other Legal Dramas

Key Takeaways from Affluenza

• Noah Schnapp's stage debut is wasted in a poorly written role.
• The play's promising premise about affluenza is squandered by erratic direction.
• The second half's time jump and character changes confuse rather than enlighten.
• Affluenza fails to deliver a coherent message about wealth and privilege.

FAQ