[NEohioPAL] Ensemble Theatre's "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" Acted Well but Just Scratches the Surface

[Marjorie Preston]

Ensemble Theatre's “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” Acted Well but Just
Scratches the Surface

By Marjorie Preston

Correspondent

www.marjoriepreston.com/brava


 “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” by David Mamet, the inaugural production at
Ensemble Theatre's new “Second Stage” space, ambitiously tries to cover
kinky sex, lesbianism, molestation, premature ejaculation, living together,
the power struggle between the sexes, pornography, bestiality, and gender
stereotypes, but understandably, in just over an hour, only pursues these
topics shallowly. The funny and realistic script seems to have a short
attention span, jumping quickly from one subject to another in pursuit of
completely covering the entire territory of sexual relations.


 It's 1976 Chicago as we meet the cast of “Sexual Perversity in Chicago”
through a series of vignettes about sex. Bernie Litko (Tyler Whidden) is a
Chicago lothario who loves to discuss his sexual exploits with his friend
Danny Shapiro (Mitch Rose). Danny is a bit more classy and open-minded, but
still seems to follow Bernie's lead and advice about the opposite sex.
Danny's girlfriend, Deborah Soloman (Layla Schwartz) is a commercial artist
looking for true love, while her roommate, Kindergarten teacher Joan Webber
(Katie Nabors), trusts more in her friends than her suitors.


 Joan's character, for her part, critiques everything Deborah does and even
tells her she feels Deborah's relationship with Danny will only last two
months. Despite this foreshadowing, Deborah tries her best to make it work
with Danny, and when it does not, at least one person in the play has
learned a lesson about the dynamic between men and women.


 The actors in Ensemble's “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” are quite good –
Whidden's timing in particular is very natural as he slings his bull as the
overconfident Bernie. The best writing is essentially Mamet's monologues:
when Bernie spins out of control, decrying the ERA or complaining about the
quality of pornography, when Danny explains how Bernie calmed Danny down at
a time when he was frustrated, or when Joan addresses two students who are
caught “playing doctor.”


 Director Ian Hinz keeps the action of his talented cast moving with quick
scene changes, absolutely essential to maintaining the momentum of the
choppy script. The set is minimal as well in this new black box 39-seater,
offering simple chairs, theater cubes, a bar, and a hint of a bed to handle
all the scenes.


 Mamet's fast-paced scenes don't delve far into the subjects they discuss –
he hits and runs with realistic seventies lingo and lots of characteristic
swearing, then breaks the tension, pushes us away, and moves on to another
topic. “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” doesn't come off as dated; it just
seems to be covering too much ground.


 “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” runs through November 3, Friday at 8 p.m.
and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. at 2843 Washington Boulevard, Cleveland
Heights. For tickets, call (216) 321-2930 or visit *www.ensemble-theatre.org
*. The play contains adult language and themes.



Best,
mp

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