Sex Marks the Spot Misses the Mark

New Lincoln Theatre Productions presents an all new remounting of Sex Marks the Spot at the Theatre Building Chicago.  Written by Charles Grippo and directed by Damian Arnold, the original production played to sell-out audiences during its limited engagement last January.  This new production runs now through July 25^th. 

Sex Marks the Spot retells a parable that has become far too familiar this day and age.  Just weeks before the election, a well-know Senator's mistress is about to reveal her salacious affair on national television. This is the jumping off point for this chaotic "Noises Off" type comedy. The Senator resorts to drugging the mistress (of course), forcing his campaign manager and press secretary to help him hide the scandal from his wife, the press and a bumbling detective (the next logical step, of course).  Just when they think they have everything in hand, the Senator's son, a marine sergeant, comes home with a blockbuster secret of his own.

I am a big fan of political satire, so I was looking forward to Sex Marks the Spot.  With the Edwards scandal, Mark Sanford and now Al Gore, at no time is this topic how more appropriate for lampoon. Nonetheless, the show ultimately disappointed me.  Grippo's work felt extremely long and drawn-out, failing to accomplish any of its goals. 

First, the piece just doesn't move quick enough to be the "comedy of errors" that it wants to be.  In fact, with the tech problems they were having the night I was there, it moved even slower.  What makes shows like Noises Off as funny as they are, are the speed in which the comedy is executed.

Although Washington sex scandals are always in vogue, this play reads grossly out of date.   (A Qaddafi reference, really?)  In juxtaposition, the contemporary references that were placed to update the show felt forced and awkward.

Finally, Grippo says "For some time I've been interested in the reaction - the private reaction we never get to see-of the spouse of the adulterous politician."  Sure, that's all well and good.  Too bad the role of the Senator's wife, Margaret Clooney, is one of the most underwritten roles in the show. 

The actors did an admirable job navigating this dense script.  As Maxwell Kotch, Adam Schulmerich, was the only cast member to really capture the spirit and energy of the genre.  I look forward to seeing his work further.

As Margaret Clooney, Lisa Herceg was thoroughly entertaining, thoughtful and three-dimensional. Unfortunately, this only served to remind us of how grossly underwritten her character was in the first place.  Like Schulmerich, I look forward to seeing her in future productions that will make better use of her talents.

Sex Marks the Spot unfortunately misses the mark on many levels.  The script is dated and doesn't really accomplish any of the goals it sets out to achieve.  The production moves too slowly to pay proper homage to its genre, and you just spend the evening looking at your watch more times than you should.

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