At the Table
produced by Fault Line Theatre
written and directed by Michael Perlman
Here Theatre
July 19, 2015
Production website     💉💉 out of five.

The off-off-off-off-off world of NYC theatre produces a one-of-a-kind experience – – a play done completely out of passion! At the Table tells the story of a group of mis-matched acquaintances agreeing to spend a few days out in the country away from their busy city lives. It came off a bit like an episode of Real Life – where MTV would place a small group of people in a confined space with obviously pre-chosen types that will collide in fights and fits of passion all for the delight of the audience. What I love about At the Table is the very close proximity of the audience. I was literally closer to the dining table then some of the characters AT the dinner party! The play had so many wonderful plot devices that it established:
1. The two bullish men making money bets at the expense of others.
2 The busy people set to turn off all of the electronic connects to the outside world to be alone – alone often with people they hate.
3. The adolescent having sex with anyone insight as if they were teenagers out on their first fieldtrip staying in a hotel.
4. The war of politics as feminist meet chauvinist; gay meets straight; black meets white; poor meets wealthy; and on and on.
Conflicts abound as the play groups then obviously into meetings in the living room – – lubricating them with lots of liquor and lots of grass. It’s fun to watch the plotting and suffering and it does have a satisfying end as all head back to the city. I merely wish the play hadn’t chosen to tell so many plays in the one play.

And don’t get me started on that sissy, gay, depressed male character that is almost ruining my summer of theatre!