John
by Annie Baker
directed by Sam Gold
Signature Theatre
July 25, 2015 Production website
NO π. I would rather go into rehab. Thank you very much.
I have broken a personal record: I have see the very WORST PLAY I have ever seen in NYC. The only reason that I stayed beyond the first hour and the first of two intermissions is that I wanted to see if, in some way, a play could take me from totally numb to comotose. I am one to NEVER nod off in a play – – but, oh what a relieve that would be here. AND the ironic thing is that this play (loosely used term) is by Annie Baker, the author of my favorite play of the summer, The Flick. Continue reading John→
Significant Other
by Joshua Harmon
directed by Trip Cullman
Roundabout Theatre
July 17, 2015 Production website.
π out of 5.
I am really not so sure what makes this significant.Β Significant Others is a play that sets out to explore how hard it is for a twenty-something gay man to find the βone.βΒ For all of his consternating with his grandmother, employing of all social media options and championing of his best girl buddies he simply canβt βget any.βΒ I guess we are supposed to care.
The play does have its funny moments as wedding parties always create a drunken free-for-all.Β And protagonist Jordan Berkan certainly does fly across the stage in a caffeinated craze – – but I simply didnβt care for him.Β He seemed so whiny and shallow as he pursued the elusive Abacrombie-like model that did little but stand on a raised platform for admiration.
οΏΌ
He did talk to his grandmother, played by the talented Barbara Barrie.Β She either ask him βhowβs your love life? (which she does more then a dozen times) or she is oddly and comfortably planning her suicide.Β What??
The set was massive – – a series of rooms and levels but none of them got used.Β Most was played on the apron in front.Β Why build such a big set and never inhabit it.
Significant Other would undoubtable make good TV.Β But to get all dressed up, catch 3 trains, pay over $75 and not to have your dog on your lap – – it simply wasnβt worth the trip.Β It might have even different for the twenty-sowing in the audience but for this fifty-something no.
