Act Three - The Reviews

Some quick research tells me that these three one-act gems came together around the one that Woody Allen wrote.   The umbrella title, Relatively Speaking, refers to the concept of family - as in your relatives and close friends.  Each of the plays has a connection to that theme and while none of them was written with the other in mind, they certainly have been packaged up together in as a 3-item gift-set for all to enjoy.

The first play, by Ethan Coen (of the famed film brother duo), Talking Cure, is the shortest and starts the evening off with some intelligent and witty banter between a prison inmate (Danny Hoch) and his psychiatrist (Jason Kravits) where we discover his issues probably stem from his mother and father.  Flash back - and we are brought to the dinner table where his pregnant mother (Katherine Borowitz) and father (Fred Melamed) are engaged in banter and bickering that is as acerbic and barb-filled as only a great writer could conjure up.

The second play, by Elaine May, entitled George is Dead, dives a bit deeper into the farcical with the always delightful and still attractive Marlo Thomas playing Doreen, an older, very wealthy, and very shallow woman in New York whose husband has just died on the ski-slopes in Colorado.  Doreen shows up at the apartment of the daughter (Lisa Emery) of her favorite nanny (Patricia O'Connell) who is, herself (the daughter), in the middle of a personal relationship crisis.  Ms. May has succeeded in this medium length gem to mix a ton of hilarity, along with a potent dose of sadness and pity.

The final play, Mr. Allen's Hollywood Motel, is a classic grand-farce that takes place in a seedy 1960's era roadside motel that involves a runaway bride, the mid-life-crisis-filled father of the groom, his wife, the father and mother of the bride, a best friend, a rabbi, a psychiatrist, the groom himself, and a pizza delivery man.  Think hysterical Carol Burnett Show skit.  Think Woody Allen.  Think Jewish humor.  Think - I never laughed so hard in all my life.   This is due, in part, to the all-star cast and their impeccable comedic timing in this gem - Steve Guttenberg, Ari Graynor, Grant Shaud (from Murphy Brown), Caroline Aaron,  Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson's voice), Mark Linn Baker (Bosom Buddies), Richard Libertini, Jason Kravits (The Practice), Danny Hoch and Bill Army.

A nicely packaged, witty, and all around entertaining evening in the theatre.  Every play on Broadway does not have to be a powerful, moving, and ground-breaking drama.  Sometimes you just need to laugh and director, John Turturro, has given us quite a treat this fall season in Relatively Speaking.

A new play by Paul Weitz that puts a dominatrix, her boyfriend, and unhappily married couple center stage.  Wowza!  An all start cast rounds out the production - Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale, Sutton Foster and Ari Graynor.

Unfortunately, I thought Sutton Foster was mis-cast as Prudence, the dominatrix.  While she was serious, she still seemed too innocent, too sweet, and too - well - mid-western.  I think a much better choice would have been Mary Louise Parker - she does crazy well.  Bobby, Zach and Ari fit nicely in their respective roles - Zach being the main guy, Harry, who is a rich, twisted, and lonely married man.

The presentation seemed like too many vignettes.  Scene changes took a while.  We bounced around a lot.  Not bad overall, just got tired of it after a while.  In the end, a lot of suggestive S&M, but the most flesh we saw was the ever-hot Bobby rip his shirt off in the throws of passion on the couch.  Yum.  The story had 4 lose ends to wrap up and I'm not sure any of them were.  Left you wondering.  In one sense, thought provoking, in another, incomplete.

One last Taboo - who's gay in Hollywood - or at least - who's willing to admit it?! This smash hit off Broadway transfer seems to be right at home on Broadway. 

Written by Douglas Carter Beane, the show is a witty, biting commentary on one of the last taboos in Hollywood today.


Julie White steals the show as the overbearing, neurotic, power-broker agent, Diane, for the not yet out of the closet actor, Mitchell - played by Thom Everett Scott. Johnny Galecki plays his hot little rent-boy (plenty of shirt off scenes and one full frontal to verify this all around!) but with a twist - he and Mitchell fall for each other - So much so that Mitchell wants to come out of the closet! But how can he do so without hurting his Hollywood acting career?! Herein lies the dilemma.

Oh yeah - another twist - the rent-boy's girlfriend gets pregnant... (girlfriend? yes!)... But here's the catch - the agent must save the day! And does she ever with her non-stop energy and drive - not to mention her omni-present cell phone!

Done in little vignettes, the action could be a bit faster - but I think that will come as they grow into their new cast members... and new home at the Cort Theater.

OK - did I say enough good things about dreamy-boy Johnny to warrant a date?! (Somehow, I doubt it.).