BWW Reviews: WOMEN ARE CRAZY BECAUSE MEN ARE...at Macha Theatre

Women Are Crazy Because Men Are Assholes/aka/Men Are Assholes Because Women Are F*cking Crazy/written and directed by Brad T. Gottfred/Macha Theatre/extended through September 29

The title says it all. Women Are Crazy Because Men Are Assholes is an in-your-face sexual comedy that is indeed aggressive with its sexual encounters. As far as the relationships are concerned - there are five couples - there is merely superficial exploration. The characters, with one exception, are exceedingly selfish and self-centered: they want what they want when they want it. If TV sitcoms are your thing, then this play will most definitely make you laugh uproariously, but if you want something extra, the play is not the thing. Currently onstage at the Macha Theatre, despite its flaws, Women... has skilled direction and some delightfully comic performances.

Five couples come together at a brunch to celebrate Nicole's (Nicole Callahan) first meeting with an internet boyfriend Dylan (Thomas Sellwood). To get right to the point, which is what happens, for Dylan, there is no on.the.spot physical attraction between them and he quickly falls for Nicole's sister Bella (DeAnna Smith) who is about to become engaged to her rich boyfriend Reynold (Blake Boyd). What happens really does happen for the best, but it's what the characters do for spite in the meantime that generates the comic moments.The humor does not come out of character, but out of the situation at hand. If you can imagine Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow in Friends getting angry with their boyfriends and jumping unexpectedly into bed with each other and engaging in lesbian masturbation, then that's an example of the comedy. It's skillfully executed simulated sex. There are several other sexual sight gags and simulations throughout the play.

For me, the very best scenes take place in a car with George (Baxter Defy) and Hillary (Tunisia Hardison) a couple recently separated, but who just can't seem to make the break, because they are so insanely jealous of another partner interfering in what they have had... which, when you get right down to it... is love. Defy is one hilarious scene stealer, whether mugging or not, and Hardison's sincere emotions make her a stand out. Boyd, in his self-centered "asshole" character mold as Reynold has some hysterical moments, especially "This is not my day!" Callahan is wonderfully caring as Nicole. Hers is the only character with real dimension as she cares about her sister's happiness as well as her own. Others in the cast are JJ Nolan as Mandy, Nikki McKenzie as Phoenix, John Weselcouch as Benny and Brian Drolet as Tim, all under Brad Gottfred's fast-paced direction.

There is a delicious segment about Apples and Oranges, a little poem delivered in chorus fashion by the entire cast midway, which adds special dimension to the proceedings. There is also a sharp observation that "relationships suffer when the two cannot fantasize together". I just wish it were fleshed out a lot more, giving more in-depth perspective, but alas, the sight gags and lurid behavior, which will delight many, win out.

For more about the show, go to www.machatheatre.org/home.html.

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