Review: THE REALISTIC JONESES Questions Imperfect Realities, Mortality, and More

In Will Eno's Drama Desk Award-winning The Realistic Joneses, we meet Bob (Alan Knoll) and Jennifer Jones (Laurie McConnell), whose young new neighbors John (Isaiah Di Lorenzo) and Pony Jones (Kelly Hummert) infiltrate their lives with normalized erraticism that is darkly funny, dry at times, and surreal. Upon John and Pony's awkward entrance in fact, we realize there is something not quite right in this world, but we are captivated by the offbeat, disjointed dialogue and the comment John makes to Bob, "We're not so different, you and me."

We find that, although they don't really understand one another in the beginning, the couples have plenty in common as their relationships build and grow, however. Through short scenes we are led through a series of communication challenges, skillful subtext, and a friendship that evolves in surprising ways, despite any uncomfortable encounters.

This Rebel and Misfits production opens and closes to a poignant and haunting rendition of "Little Boxes" in The J's New Jewish Theatre Blackbox, the stage at center featuring two patio doors, two back yards with coolers, a grill, a patio table, and various suburban odds and ends in the foreground. There are mountains in the distance, birds chirping intermittently, and overhead several colorful balloon lanterns in the sky. This impressive production, directed by Edward M. Coffield with scenic design by Peter and Margery Spack, lighting design by Jon Ontiveros, and sound design by Ellie Schwetye, makes exceptional use of sound and light, often subtly switching between crickets and birds, warm evening light and starker daylight. It is all wonderfully reflective, as are the costumes, of the days that pass, as the Joneses connect in weird and wonderful ways.

We recognize each of these characters. Bob and Jennifer are the gracious couple we all want next door. There's John, the attractive oaf whose offbeat personality strikes us as amusing but not especially witty. And then there's Pony, the childlike free spirit who owns a different pair of large hoop earrings for each outfit she owns. The ensemble cast members in this production each bring their A-game to this production, Knoll and McConnell, who actually are married, playing off one another naturally and with ease. Di Lorenzo and Hummert similarly are well-matched actors and all build to believable, emotional climaxes, which come on almost without warning - shocking, powerful, and real.

This is a play about solitude, love, humanity, loneliness, the horrors of a degenerative illness, coincidence, and unlikely friendships. Without giving the plot twist away, this is one of the few smart, quiet, and naturalistic dramas that sort of crawls up under your skin and camps out there for days. It will move you in the moment and you will be thinking about these characters and their plight well after you leave the theater.

We're not so different, them and us. You'll want to see The Realistic Joneses now through August 12. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.rebelandmisfitsproductions.com/.

Bring a sweater, by the way. The theater is a bit chilly.

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