NYMF: Jason & Ben: Savior Behavior

It's Christmas Eve, and Ben is depressed - his boyfriend just walked out that morning without waking him, and so Ben is sitting in the freezing park strumming his acoustic guitar and writing a song about the 93 days they were together. Along comes a smooth-talking guy who claims to be named Jesus, Ben, or Jason- claims to be a failed songwriter (just like Ben will be in 10 years), and invites him back to his place, just up the street. Ben is reluctant to go till Jason mentions that he works for Messenger Records, and Ben is naturally a huge fan...

And so begins Matthew Loren Cohen's 2-person musical Jason & Ben, a fascinatingly manipulative mindgame that's reminiscent of the work of Edward Albee; each of the men, though craving connection, is hiding bits of himself. Jason seems to think he knows it all, and his condescension is hilariously off-putting, but Ben keeps coming back for more abuse- they go to bed, Ben fantasizing about his favorite celebrity crush (singing the hilarious "JBG"). Eventually Jason's dependency is revealed- he's been lying about everything in an attempt to save Ben from himself, so that Ben won't turn out like him- 32, unsuccessful and living in New York, which he hates. The elliptical speeches and playing of games become tiresome before the show is over, but the show is mainly redeemed by the wonderful music, which satisfactorily expresses the passion and real emotions the two hide from each other.

Will Taylor is perfectly emo as Ben- unsure of himself and ready to suffer in the cold for his art. Zach Fischer is suavely omniscient as Jason- letting his own insecurities and savior complex crack through the veneer as his lies begin to pile up.  Both sing and play guitar wonderfully.
Music direction by Adam Wachter and Direction by James Beaudry are both excellent.

Cohen is the musical director of The Nuclear Family, a musical improv troupe, which I was lucky enough to catch last year. Jason & Ben is his first non-improvised musical, and if this is his first attempt, I look forward to his future endeavors.

For more information please visit www.nymf.org