BWW Reviews: Playwright Jeff Gould Vividly and Hysterically Answers IS THERE SEX AFTER MARRIAGE at the Two Roads Theater
Is There Sex After Marriage?/by Jeff Gould/directed by Jeff Gould/Two Roads Theater/thru October 26, 2014
Is There Sex After Marriage?-- another splendidly written 75 minutes of clever entertainment on the role of sex in marriage from It's Just Sex playwright Jeff Gould. A talented cast of six (double cast with various combinations each show) hysterically illustrate the pitfalls caused by an off-the-cuff, but honest remark; leading to huge misunderstandings; morphing into long moments of ecstatic bliss; resulting in ???
The cast I saw all had their individual moments to shine on stage throughout the evening. David Jahn and Rene Ashton wonderfully inhabit the embattled spouse roles of Roger and Sherry, making each three-dimensional, feeling, flawed, tunnel-visioned, but loving mates. Joel Berti and Lisa Marie Summerscales confidently play not only Zack and Beth, the still passionate, (still having sex five times a week after only six years married); but other roles, deftly differentiated, as well. Vince Duvall and Melinda Hughes portray the sexless married couple Joe and Mindy, in addition to, swingers Hank and Karen. Duvall and Hughes get the most laughs out of this talented group with Duvall's bull-eyed physical comedy gestures and Hughes' fabulous double takes.
Friends all, the three couples gather in Sherry and Roger's living room. In the course of casual conversation, Roger admits to everyone that sex with Sherry can be boring. Sherry feels insulted. Backpedalling does nothing to unfreeze Sherry's curt responses to Roger over the next few days. In the heat of battle, Roger suggests that since he's not getting any sex from her, he should be able to get it from outside their marriage. Shockingly, Sherry calls his bluff, but reminds Roger that now she can do likewise. Two separate, innocent coincidences have both Roger and Sherry doing it with others, in the same evening, in the same house, theirs; but in different rooms (he in the bedroom, she in the living room).
After another period of not speaking, Roger and Sherry agree to spend a night out to patch up their relationship. They go to a party that Sherry's yoga class friend has invited them to. Turns out, to both their surprise, they're in the middle of a swingers' party. Roger's very intrigued, but Sherry wants to leave. Duvall, Hughes, and especially Summerscales have much fun as the sex participants. Hilarious sex at its most satisfying!
When the three couples actually do get together again, unforeseen issues and secrets reveal themselves and have to be dealt with.
Playwright Gould directs his work in an efficient and concise pace milking every comic bit and tugging at the romantic heart strings.
Excellent clean modern living room set by Allison Schenker.
Added bonus: the inspired choices of familiar pop songs during scene changes that relate to the preceding scenes--Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction," Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising," R. B. Greave's "Take A Letter, Maria," Sly & the Family Stone's "Everyday People." All so spot-on!
Great convincing chemistry between the three pairs of actors in their respective marriages, especially Jahn's Roger and Ashton's Sherry. Very nice!
www.Plays411.com/sexaftermarriage
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