BWW Reviews: THE MYSTERY OF LOVE & SEX, a Romantic Comedy for The Questioning

Traditionally, romantic comedies tend to involve people who share the same sexual orientation, or sometimes couples whose mismatched orientations propel the story. The interesting twist in Bathsheba Doran's funny and touching The Mystery of Love & Sex, is that its poignancy and humor are derived from the romantic/platonic issues that arise when two people who are still trying to figure out their sexual orientations share a healthy and supportive relationship.

Southerners Charlotte (Gayle Rankin) and Jonny (Mamoudou Athie) have been best friends since they were nine, despite different ethnic, religious and monetary backgrounds. Now they're away at college together and functioning as a comfortably committed couple who know no better way to spend a day than to be together. And yet, for reasons involving each one's way of dealing with confusing emotions and self-discovery, exactly how far their relationship can go is a muddy question.

As is often the case in such stories, she's the outgoing, somewhat frazzled and outspoken one while he's the calming eye of the storm. In the opening scene their low-budget lifestyle is a source of fascination for Charlotte's mom, Lucinda (Diane Lane) and annoyance for her father, Howard (Tony Shalhoub).

New Yorker Howard is a successful detective novelist, proud of being "a pushy Jew." ("Without pushy Jews we wouldn't have Hollywood.") Though he considers himself an open-minded liberal, his way of expressing himself can raise some doubts. When Jonny, who is black, makes a remark about slave ships, Howard feels compelled to top him with a mention of the ships that brought in refugees escaping pogroms and death camps. Lucinda, who has her share of quirks, counters his acerbic manner with heaping helpings of southern belle charm.

Howard and Lucinda also have their issues, one of which parallels that of the younger pair. With five years separating the play's two acts, we see sharp changes in the relationships of the two couples, as well as the inevitable changes in Charlotte's relationship with her parents. Doran neatly balances serious moments with funny ones, and the ultimate message of forgiveness and growth caps the evening off with warmth.

Director Sam Gold's charming production features a strong quartet of actors. Rankin's Charlotte is a complex mess of unchecked emotions who is nevertheless centered in strength. Athie's bottled-up Jonny struggles to handle his admiration for Howard while seeing instances of racism, sexism and homophobia in his work.

Shalhoub has the most interesting character and perhaps the most difficult job, keeping Howard likable despite his verbal bullying and insensitive barbs, but the character's kinder qualities are fully embraced. Lane, for the most part, plays the silly foil with gags playing off Lucinda's half-hearted attempts to please Howard by quitting smoking. But there is also in her the remains of a free-spirit trying to regain what she had before taking on the responsibilities of marriage and motherhood.

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