Erin Shields explores the misconceptions of millennials in her new play

Erin Shields isn't a millennial but she is a Canadian playwright who is fascinated by the millennial generation. Her new play, The Millennial Malcontent, is a look at the way millennials interact, how they approach relationships and how they represent themselves. "I find the idea of generations fascinating," she notes.

It's also interesting to note that, although this play is new, its characters are based on a 1697 Restoration comedy by John Vanbrugh called The Provoked Wife. Upon reading that, you may not think there are any parallels but Shields is quick to explain just how much the two time periods actually have in common. 

"Restoration plays were about the presentation and the performance of the self, and how these characters perform themselves in the world in order to get love and money and attention," she says. "That's a direct parallel to today and the way we present and perform ourselves online." 

The Millennial Malcontent opens tonight and runs until April 9 at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. For more information, head over to their website. 

— Produced by Cora Nijhawan