Review: SEX WITH STRANGERS Pits Polar Opposites in Artistic and Financial Duel

In all facets of the creative arts, it is an unfortunate reality that every artist needs to balance his/her artistic vision with the need to be commercially successful in order to survive financially, which in turn will allow you to follow your vision. But where do you draw the line? Of course everyone needs to earn a living, but must you sacrifice your true artistic vision in order to be a success?

Such is the theme of SEX WITH STRANGERS written by Laura Eason and directed with an inner vision of the struggle by Kimberly Senior. The production features Stephen Louis Grush as Ethan and Rebecca Pidgeon as Olivia. Their push me-pull you relationship involves the emotional struggle by each of their characters as writers to decide whether it is better to follow their true vision or go for the financial gains a successful career can mean for each of them. After all, if you have enough money, you can basically do what you want to with your art. Right?

The smaller Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse is configured so the audience sits on 3 sides of Sibyl Wickersheimer's intimate set, allowing the audience to feel as if we are flies on the wall watching the action from within the room where the characters interact, but never interacting with them so as not to break the 4th wall of intense reality. It has to be a real challenge for those two talented actors to be able to see the audience but act as if no one else is there with them. Grush and Pidgeon never break focus, even when within inches of the front row.

Act 1 takes place at a bed and breakfast in rural Michigan during a blizzard. Frustrated novelist Olivia is alone, settling in with a good book when she is interrupted by fast-talking blogger Ethan, a writer whose blog and successful book entitled Sex With Strangers focuses more on his sexual prowess than his prose. And even though Olivia worries she will become just another chapter in his little black book, Ethan seems genuinely interested in her first published book which was not a financial success. Struggling to complete her second novel, Ethan convinces Olivia through words and actions that he can "make it happen" for her through his many contacts in the publishing world. And as the weekend proceeds, Olivia is drawn in by all of his promises as well as his many talents and agrees to meet with his agent about her next book.

In Act 2, the set changes into Olivia's apartment in Chicago, filled with enough of her beloved books to complete a public library. She is well on her way to financial success, even though she has sold out and agreed to allow her book to be published as an e-book, something she was totally opposed to until Ethan convinced her that to attain financial success, this was the way to go. The 10-year difference in their ages is apparent since Olivia still enjoys being in a world without the constant internet ruling her life while Ethan is totally focused on his presence in the online world.

But as things change and Olivia's online success surpasses Ethan's, his immature reaction to coming in second causes him to attempt sabotaging her book deal. It is then that Olivia realizes she can stand on her own two feet and her life will be what she makes of it, not what Ethan can do for her. Playing against type, Grush is the more realistically emotional of the two, while Pidgeon seems a bit too reserved at times, almost as it acting for a camera rather than an audience. But their intense ability to stay attuned to each other during their funny and flirty union blurs the lines between rewrites, romance and royalties, allowing us to decide for ourselves where the balance between artistic vision and financial success can meet and survive, especially in today's digital world.

SEX WITH STRANGERS continues through Sunday, April 10 at Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

Tickets are priced from $60 to $82 are available in-person at the Geffen Playhouse box office, via phone at 310.208.5454 or online at www.geffenplayhouse.com. Performances take place daily except Mondays.

The run of SEX WITH STRANGERS will feature include Talk Back Tuesdays (Audience Q+A with artists), Lounge Fridays and Wine Down Sundays. Thanks to the support of Geffen Playhouse partners and sponsors, all elements of Signature Series evenings are complimentary as part of the ticket price. More info at www.GeffenPlayhouse.com/SexWithStrangers.

Photos by Michael Lamont

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