BWW Reviews: PULLING LEATHER is Quite Interesting Fare at Actors Forum

Pulling Leather
by Ted Ryan
directed by Audrey M. Singer
@ Actors Forum Theatre
through October 30

Don't be deceived by the title Pulling Leather! It does not take place in a leather bar. Yes, it does involve sex, but most likely not in the way you think. It is actually an examination of the various aspects of love as experienced through three very different relationships. An original two-act play by Ted Ryan, which evolved out of Audrey M. Singer's Tuesday night workshop at the Actors Forum, Pulling Leather is unique but universal in that one man's struggle to fully come to terms with his destiny could be everyman's.

Bronco rider Jacob (Ted Ryan) meets Beth (Tess Christiansen) when she accidentally wanders into his Hollywood apartment looking for the landlord. Beth is a political activist, aggressive as hell, and it doesn't take long for Jacob to fall head over heels in love with her. He is a complex man, in therapy, trying to understand why he keeps pulling leather during championship bronco rides. Pulling leather means using the free hand to slow down the horse, showing the rider's fear and inability to keep on a competitive edge, and triggering disqualification. Jacob has been doing this more and more but cannot fully grasp why, as he really loves riding and the fierce competition. His father recently passed on, and he has always believed, based on what his father told him, that his mother died in an auto accident when he was 2. Several surprises are in store for Jacob, that will really test his emotional mantle, and when Beth wants him to give up bronco riding because of her own fears for his life, he refuses, breaking off their relationship. Jacob's roommate Cliff (Christopher Stone) is a sexaholic and when he finds himself in a dating situation with Krista (Stephanie Jeffrey) that seems to be leading somewhere - for her, he breaks it off. On the other hand, there is a long-lasting, loving relationship between the guys' landlord Vince (Bert Hinchman) and his caring wife Grace (Sheila Oaks), which is coming up on 40 years. The play is at its very best when all the characters come together like a dysfunctionally extended family, with Vince and Grace sort of like the parents of Jacob and Cliff. The second half of the play still needs some retooling, for as is, Jacob hits a breakthrough but it seems at this stage to come too fast. More conflict is in order, especially with resolving his past issues more completely before moving forward.

The cast is fine, with Christiansen and Jeffrey both superb as the two girlfriends. Christiansen beautifully plays a complex, intelligent creature, whereas Jeffrey's Krista is the dumb blonde, the artistic one, who suffers more rejection. Jeffrey (sharing the role with Kate Bergeron on Saturdays) brings a keen awareness to this gal and has one of the finest moments of the play with a monologue about shooting stars. Both Hinchman and Oaks are fun and caring, as is Larry Lederman as Dr. Kitner, Jacob's therapist. Ann Marie Morrell has a complex role as Mary, bringing tenderness and confusion to the mentally-ill woman. Sloan is fast-talking and fun as the goofball Cliff, offering a good contrast to Jacob's serious nature. Ryan as Jacob really has a handle on playing the cowboy. He is smooth and sturdy, but still needs to find more of Jacob's emotional core. This will come with further exploration and rewrites. Audrey M. Singer's direction is pure gold, adding full and fluid strokes to every scene.

In its present stage, Pulling Leather is an engrossing work with a lot of high, compelling moments. It has intriguing characters, good realistic dialogue and a strong sense of what love ought to be. Considering that it's Ryan's first full length play, it is quite good and definitely worthy of your time.

 

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