A play focusing on two high school boys features a mix of comedic and dark moments.

“A Separate Peace” is based on a book by John Knowles, and it tells the story of Finny and Gene, two teenagers at an all-boys boarding school. Set in the northeastern part of the country during wartime in the 1940s, the play is being performed at Arts Live Theatre this weekend.

Finny and Gene have a complex relationship, director Jason Suel says. Finny, played by Coleman Ray Clark, is an outgoing, charismatic and athletic individual. Gene, played by Reed Carson, is not as self-confident as Finny, Suel says.

“They kind of get fed up with each other every once in a while,” he says.

Finny is the driving force of the play, but the audience will be watching Gene’s journey, Suel says. He has a character arc whereas Finny is mostly the same throughout the play.

The show features many light moments, such as Finny making up games for the boys to play outside, but there are also hard-hitting, darker places, Suel says.

A dark point shows Finny and Gene deciding to jump out of a tree on campus, which is a rite of passage at the school. They have both successfully jumped previously. This time, however, Gene has gotten fed up with Finny and jounces the limb, causing Finny to fall and break his leg. The other students then deliberate about whether Gene did it on purpose. Gene somewhat denies it but knows he kind of meant to jostle the limb and feels guilty, Suel says. There is a twist at the end, which may leave people with questions, leading to good conversations afterward, Suel notes.

“A Separate Peace” has actors ages 13-17, but Suel decided to have a real teacher play the teacher in the show. Mike Thomas, a veteran Fayetteville actor and drama teacher at Fayetteville High School, portrays Mr. Prud’Homme.

“I felt like it would bring a little gravity and weight to the play if we actually had a mature actor playing a teacher role,” Suel says.

The play is open to all ages, but Suel notes that people ages 12 and older will likely get the most out of it.

Arts Live Theatre has featured other serious or dark plays in the past, and Suel says he believes ALT Executive Director Mark Landon Smith wants to experiment more with these because it “gives an added challenge to our actors.” At Arts Live Theatre, people can experience musicals, comedies and serious, gritty works, he adds.