BWW Reviews: LABUTE DOUBLE-BILL FOR 2015 PRIDEFEST! at The Tank Theater

LaBute Double-Bill for 2015 Pridefest! Some Girl(s) / Strange Fruit

The Blockhead Theater Group, The Tank Theater, 46th Street, NY, NY

Playwright Neil LaBute seems to like to write stories about men who behave badly. The protagonist of "Some Girl(s)" (who is nameless) is yet another LaBute bad boy.

As "Guy" Michael Finnigan has all the requisite qualities: handsome, charming, smarmy, shallow, self-obsessed, of a Labute hero. He is a college professor turned author or writer (as his only work referenced is a magazine article) who is in something of an emotional quandary as his wedding day is approaching. We learn that just before his upcoming marriage to his much younger and never seen fiancée, he decides he must call up several old girlfriends to atone for past sins - or so he'd like them to believe.

The three ex's whom he reunites with are all complex, intelligent, attractive, interesting women. Which leaves the audience often wondering, what did they ever see in him?

The reunions, take place in hotel rooms in various cities across the county. His choice of women for the rendezvous could not be more dissimilar. Tyler, played with great verve by Charlotte Raines, is a punkrocker chic with a completely uninhibited personality. She has had to live with the knowledge that she was never really a serious contender for his affection but merely a fling and a fun diversion. Ms. Raines brings an element of strength, pride and fun to a role that can often be clichéd.

Lindsay, portrayed by Louise Oliver, an older woman whom we are lead to understand may have been one of his school professors, decides that she is going to turn the tables on "Guy," and extract a measure of revenge. This is arguably the weakest part of the play, as Labute's writing sinks to cheesy artless comedy, not his strong suit and Lindsay's attempt to humiliate "man" feels forced and pathetic. Nonetheless, Oliver delivers an intelligent, textured performance as the one woman who should have known better.

Next, "Guy" delves into some seriously creepy territory, as we learn that when he was eighteen years old he had a quick fling with his best friend's kid sister - age twelve. As Reggie, Gisell Arismendi brought a tremendous sense of dignity to the role. The twelve year old has grown up and become a writer herself. Although she first appears a confident, sexy young woman, a professional with her life together, we soon learn that beneath the surface, she is an emotional wreck, whose ability to deal with men, sex and relationships has been forever screwed up by that one childhood experience. Ms. Arismendi displays an incredible depth of character, and pathos, subtly and deftly coming apart emotionally as she relates her painful story to Guy. She's never forgotten him, and his childhood promise to marry her, a promise that he'd clearly forgotten immediately after making it.

The final conquest is Bobbi, who is possibly the nearest thing to true love that Guy ever had. Of course, being a complete cad, he screwed it up by suggesting a three-way with Bobbie and her twin sister. Once again, we as an audience ask: what do they see in him? As he tries desperately to reconnect with Bobbi, he continually refers to his fiancée, both casually and dismissively, as just "some girl." Joan Jamison is wonderful as the confused and alternately repulse and attracted, Bobbi. This is the largest and most fleshed-out female character in the play and she nimbly handles the emotional roller-coaster with great humor and flexibility.

Director Lucio Nieto has elevated what can be an extremely static play, in a resourceful and graceful manner, to something alive with energy and passion.

In the second half of the evening, which followed immediately upon the conclusion of the first, Mr. Nieto took off his director's hat and replaced it with an actors' hat.

Strange Fruit is the story of two men in love whose plans to get married are crushed by an ugly gay-bashing incident. Standing at opposite ends of the stage the two men recount their love story in the form of two interlaced monologues. They have flown to California to marry for the brief period gay marriage was legalized there. About halfway through the piece we learn that this is not in fact a dialogue but rather a monologue from the memory of the widowed partner after his partner has been viciously murdered.

Director Louise Oliver finds truth and honesty in a decidedly Spartan but extremely effective style, dressing both characters in identical grey suits with black bowties. Josh Meredith is charming as the unwitting victim of the assault who wonders, cheerfully to his own death, so in love that he smiles at the attackers, blissfully unaware of his impending doom. Lucio Nieto is heartbreaking as the narrator revealing his tale of love and loss. He tactfully and elegantly related the story with great dignity while displaying a palpable pain in every word.

The Labute double bill was a part of The Tank Theater's 2015 Pride Fest! The Tank presents an impressive 350 performances per year.

The Blockheads Theater Group is a gutsy, young organization definitely worth watching! It will be interesting to see what they do next. Congrats and kudos!

http://www.weareblockheads.com/

Peter Danish

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