Bootycandy @ Playwrights Horizons’ Mainstage Theater

Shocking hilarity and poignant intimacy entwine to reveal Robert O’ Hara’s Bootycandy!

Sutter is on an outrageous odyssey through his childhood home, his church, dive bars, motel rooms and even nursing homes. A kaleidoscope of sketches that interconnect to portray growing up gay and black, Robert O’Hara’s subversive, uproarious satire crashes headlong into the murky terrain of pain and pleasure and... BOOTYCANDY

Please note that I am being cautious to steer clear of spoilers of any kind as I feel that the unexpected is the heart and beauty of the show!

Stepping into the Playwrights Horizons Theatre, one cannot possibly be prepared for all of the surprises Bootycandy has in store. The play consists of several shorts; each is approximately 10 minutes in length and the title of each is elegantly displayed via projection above the stage. The first sketch in Bootycandy shares a title by the same name. From the moment the stage lights up the audience ignites with uproarious laughter. O’Hara’s comedic writing cocktailed with the comedic talents of Phillip James Brannon, Jessica Frances Dukes ,Jesse Pennington, Benja Kay Thomas and Lance Coadie Williams are a force that lasso the viewers into submission. The supremely-satirical costume and scenic designs by Clint Ramos are complimented by the supremely-satirical hair and make-up designs by Dave Bova.  

The 1st act may deceive the audience into thinking they are just in for an evening of several humorous short plays (with a dash of drama thrown in for good measure). And, if you’re like me, you may almost be at your wits end with the copious amounts of four letter words and the shorts that just seem to be brazen racial stereotypes. But hold on. Right before intermission Bootycandy will flirt with a depth and an unexpected throughline that will only be revealed in Act II. Be prepared to have chills by the time the sketch “iPhone” is finished (if you haven’t already)!

Bootycandy breaks the fourth wall left and right, consistently mind melding. It will give you an intimate and yet perverse look at family, sexuality, politics and ethics. Above all, it will make you laugh until you choke.

Review By: Staci Morin
Photos By: Joan Marcus