Stockholm @ 59E59 B

   Stockholm both a place and a state of mind. The play by Bryony Lavery and directed by Nick Flint is an intellectually stimulating look at abusive relationships and the devastating affects they will have if perpetuated.

   Christina Benne Lind plays Kali, a wonderfully passionate woman bent on enjoying life to the utmost. Without once losing the intensity of a woman deeply in love, we see her passion become raging manipulation and abuse towards Todd played by Richard Saudek. A game which they have played for years, wherein she become jealous of some past lover of his, convinces herself he is going to leave her and then seeks to destroy his will. The story is old, domestic abuse. It is a rarity though, in which we see it displayed from this perspective. Richard's transitions from man in love to caged animal is both seamless and heartbreaking.  Christina and Richard sizzle onstage. Their chemistry and tension so clear you can see it shimmering between them, a chord that tightens, both in love and inevitably, hate.

   Typical Bryony Lavery style, the script is static. Jumping between third person narratives and dialogue, it takes a moment for the audience to understand who the story is about. A ploy that is both confusing and yet, highly stimulating. This is clearly not just a story about a couple, but rather an inside glimpse into an abusive household and how it will affect the next generation.
   Natalie Lomonte's choreography compliments both the actors abilities and the script. A particularly beautiful piece near the end of the play is breathtaking to watch as we see this couple, whom we have come to know, start their abuse cycle all over again.

   Nick Flint's direction smooths over much of Bryony's static style making the show relatable to an audience. I found the actors speaking in tandem to be a bit disconcerting because they were not completely in sync with each other, a direction I understand thinking back on the show, but one that confused the audience during the production.

   Crew includes, Techincal Director Lou Albruzzese, Composer Estelle Bajou, Sound Designer Janie Bullard, Scenic Designer James Dardenne, Lighting Designer Mike Rigs, and Costume Designer Kenisha Kelly.

   Both erotic and disturbing, Stockholm is not a show to be overlooked, but a piece to be savored and discussed. This play is only running through March 29th, so be sure to get your tickets here.

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man @ The 777 Theater

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man was written by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman.  First published in 1997 -- before TV shows and films such as “Will and Grace,” “Sex and the City” and My Best Friend’s Wedding reflected the straight girl/gay guy friendship in mainstream pop culture; and years before the “Queer Eye” guys introduced the world to the notion of better living through gay advice -- the book instantly became a national best-seller. Now it has hit New York City with a live interactive bang, leaving the audience, laughing, full of knowledge and thoroughly turned on!

This new comedy is set inside a local university auditorium, where the featured event is an interactive discussion with the author of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man.  With the help of Stefan, a hunky stage assistant, author Dan Anderson encourages the shy and studious moderator of the event, Robyn, to follow her dreams while following his tips.  Based on the international best-selling book, this world premiere production welcomes audiences into a fun-filled world of foolproof moves and insider advice that could only be culled from that most insightful of individuals: the gay man.

The cast includes Jason Michael Snow (Book of Mormon, South Pacific, Saved) as Dan, Lindsay Nicole Chambers (Lysistrata Jones, Forbidden Broadway, “Submissions Only”) as Robyn, and Andrew Brewer (Cougar The Musical) as Stefan. These three drag the audience in and capture their undivided attention for a hysterical ninety minutes. Chambers is adorably awkward, Snow is quick, sharp and incredibly sassy and lastly Brewer is sexy as hell. This stunning talent combined with the lighting, sound, audience participation, awkward sex talk, and a strip tease on the moon leaves the audience begging for more.

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man is now playing Off-Broadway at The 777 Theater. This show is highly encouraged for audiences over the age of 18, gay, straight, married or single, its a great show for everyone.

Review By: James Russo

Photos By: Jeremy Daniel

Intimacy @ The Acorn Theatre @ Theatre Row

   

Thomas Bradshaw's new play, Intimacy, directed by Scott Elliott, is a rocket ship of emotion. Both titillating, shocking, and thought provoking, Intimacy explores the hypocrisy concealed within a wealthy suburb and consequently the American middle class. 

Three families, inter-connected, are forced into absurd clashes as each family becomes aware of the other's sexual perversions, so to speak. The absurdly wealthy, albeit stingy, James (Daniel Gerroll) has found God after his wife's death. Despite his constant chastisement and prayer, he still struggls with an addiction to masturbation - an addiction that leads him to find his neighbor's daughter, Janet (Ella Dershowitz) in a porn magazine. Meanwhile, his son, Matthew (Austin Cauldwell) sees no problem with gratuitous masturbation and even spies on Janet while also fooling around with Sarah (Dea Julien), their contractor's daughter. Sarah's father, Fred (David Anzuelo) will preach hard work and support his wife's decision to work at Wal-Mart on 16 hour shifts and then turn around and masturbate to gay porn. Ever supportive and sexually liberated Pat (Laura Esterman), finds her daughter's career choice admirable, while Jerry (Keith Randolph Smith), struggles with the growing fact that his daughter is working in an industry he previously supported, but now can't imagine his little girl participating in. 

   While the script certainly sets up for a thought provoking piece of theatre, the grotesque theatrics, including needless nudity, bodily fluids flying across stage, and graphic sex, make the show less than what it could be. Kudos to Bradshaw and Elliott who sought to expand the minds of their audience with blatant disregard of social norms, but it lacks credibility and takes away from the truth in the script. 

  Special mention to Gerroll, Smith, and Esterman. Their performances make the show. Gerroll completely sells the over-wrought, crazy, middle aged, Christian finatic obsessed with finding inner peace while destroying everyone else's. Smith's drunken monologue is brilliant. And Esterman's dead pan humor, compassion, and bubbliness make her the most interesting person onstage.

  Intimacy includes set design by Derek McLane, costume design by Scott Elliott, lighting design by Russell H. Champa, sound design by Shane Rettig and video design by Olivia Sebesky. The associate costume designer is Kristine Koury.

  Intimacy will be at the Acorn Theatre through March 8th.  

Review By Aziza Seven
Photos provided by broadwayworld.com

Photo by Monique Carboni

Becoming Dr. Ruth @ Westside Theatre, Upstairs

Directly following the world premiere at Barrington Stage Company and a sold out run at TheaterWorks, Hartford, Becoming Dr. Ruth gets its New York Premiere Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre, starring the incredibly loveable Debra Jo Rupp (“That’s 70’s Show”).

The general public knows Dr. Ruth Westheimer from her career as a pioneering radio and television sex therapist. Few, however, know the incredible journey that preceded it. From fleeing the Nazis in the Kindertransport and joining the Haganah in Jerusalem as a scout and sniper, to her struggles to succeed as a single mother coming to America, Becoming Dr. Ruth is filled with the humor, honesty and life-affirming spirit of Karola Ruth Siegel, the girl who became “Dr. Ruth”, Americaʼs most famous sex therapist.

The show opens while Dr. Ruth is cleaning her apartment preparing to move out, and instantly breaks the fourth wall by recognizing that fact that two hundred people are sitting in front of her. From there, her story begins as she takes us on her emotional ride through the Holocaust straight to the hilarity of how she became a sex therapist. Debra Jo Rupp portrays the iconic woman and delivers a stunning performance with exemplary passion and honesty. Dr. Ruth would be so proud of the care that Rupp conveys her story. Despite Rupp’s incredible performance, the script drags and the mood lighting doesn't help the story line. Both of this setbacks are easily over looked due to Rupp’s talent.

 

Becoming Dr. Ruth officially opened at the upstairs theatre at Westside Theatre,on Tuesday, October 29th and runs a limited engagement through January 12th, 2014. Don’t not miss out on this amazing woman’s journey.

Photos by: Carol Rosegg
Review By: James Russo & Lisa Kosak