Review Roundup: Robert Askins' PERMISSION Opens Off-Broadway

MCC Theater's Permission, the new comedy from HAND TO GOD playwright Robert Askins, opens tonight, May 20th, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street), directed by Alex Timbers.

Permission stars Justin Bartha, of Broadway's Lend Me A Tenor, Off-Broadway's All New People and the blockbuster film The Hangover; Twilight Saga and "Grey's Anatomy" Emmy-nominated star Elizabeth Reaser, returning to MCC following her critically acclaimed performance in this fall's The Money Shot; and theater regulars Nicole Lowrance, Talene Monahon, and Lucas Near-Verbrugghe.

In Permission, Eric and Cyndy are looking for some direction. They've decided to follow the lead of their friends Zach and Shelley and make the real life practice of Christian Domestic Discipline the foundation of their marriage. But restructuring their lives and their union according to role play and a new moral code upends everything they knew -- and took for granted -- about one another, their friends, and more importantly, who really holds the power.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Charles Isherwood, The New York Times: Although this tale of young Christians embarking on unusual sexual adventures also suggests that once the libido has been given full rein, anarchy may not be far away, the play never digs deeply into the psyches of its characters, remaining content to exploit its gimmick for raucous, mildly raunchy comedy...Mr. Askins's gift for smart and funny dialogue is often in evidence...But once the provocative conceit has been established, Mr. Askins doesn't find any particularly revealing ideas to explore, letting the naughty novelty do most of the work...Mr. Bartha's role is the meatiest. He transmits Eric's sometimes dazed vacillation between confusion (professional and marital) and excitement (sexual and extramarital). Ms. Reaser...persuasively charts Cynthia's journey from disappointed malcontent to enthusiastic if still anxiety-ridden partner in punishing sex play.

Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter: The play contains no shortage of funny moments thanks to its premise, which provides the theatrical equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel. But despite the wildly imaginative flair he displayed in his previous work, the playwright doesn't reap similar magic in this broad comedy. With most of the humor generated by Cynthia's turned-on reactions to having her fanny whacked - one hopes that the lead actresses are outfitted with protective padding - the proceedings eventually become repetitive and tiresome. Under the fast-paced direction of Alex Timbers...the ensemble delivers amusing performances. Bartha displays a comic flair...and Reaser...is hilariously unrestrained as the happily submissive wife. But despite their best efforts, Permission doesn't live up to its potential.

Marilyn Stasio, Variety: ...the actors, under helmer Alex Timbers' carefully calibrated direction, seem to be doing most of the work here. Near-Verbrugghe ("Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson") has Zach's cock-of-the-walk strut down cold. Bartha ("The Hangover," "Lend Me a Tenor") is all hunched shoulders and caved-in ego as poor Eric. Reaser (fresh off her guest star role in "Mad Men") has perfected that nasal whine of "delicate" wives who are allergic to everything, especially their husbands. And Lowrance is downright delicious as Michelle, a high-powered lawyer absolutely seething with rage at being reduced to "the little woman in the kitchen"...But in the end, there's not quite enough fun to be had from this Christian version of marital S&M, and strange to say, all the spankings (expertly choreographed and quite realistic, let it be said) become repetitive and pointless.

Adam Feldman, Time Out NY: Men should lead, women should submit, and they'll all live slap-happily ever after: This is the goal of CDD, which gives a quasi-BDSM spin to scripture...Robert Askins milks it for many knowing laughs in his hit-and-miss hit-the-missus comedy, Permission...Askins is interested in the messy intersections of lust, religion and supportiveness...although Askins doesn't stint on the humor of his subject, neither does he dismiss it as Red State twaddle...Reaser gives a delightfully daffy comic performance grounded in solid feeling, and Bartha is appealing in a rom-com-manchild way...Near-Verbrugghe is an expert at see-through male posturing, and Lowrance is fittingly tough. Even so, Permission doesn't quite come together; the exposition often seems explanatory, and the second act doesn't generate the momentum to put across the frantic, farcical finale...With a bit more padding, it could land stronger blows.

Linda Winer, Newsday: Robert Askins' "Hand to God," an irreverent sketch about the devil in a hand puppet, had its Obie-winning premiere downtown at MCC Theater before moving to Broadway...Now his next comedy, "Permission," is back in the same tiny playhouse...But this one, about something called Domestic Christian Discipline, feels unfinished, as if Askins had a flashy idea but never figured out with to do with it. Two married couples -- including one played by Justin Bartha and Elizabeth Reaser -- learn about the positives and negatives of a male-dominated cult that believes they are spanking for Jesus. Butt falsies, devised by costume designer Paloma Young to protect the actors, are impressive. That's about it.

Jesse Green, Vulture: In order to preserve the possibility of hilarity, the playwright splits the difference by setting his story in a bright, naughty, retro sitcom world; you can almost hear the laugh track. Meanwhile, he undergirds the action with serious themes like the complacency of modern marriage and the feminization of men...What matters is that Askins hasn't been able to find a way to make the play's two tones work together...Some of the actors offer thoughtful sitcom stylings (Justin Bartha, who plays Eric, was a star of The New Normal) while others (especially Elizabeth Reaser as a dementedly prurient Cynthia) offer wild-eyed theatricality. Either is fine, but both together leave you feeling not some new, insightful amalgamation but the bad faith of wanting things both ways.

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