Review
All This Intimacy
2econd Stage Theater Uptown
July 26, 2006
VanLoan
vanloan@nyconstage.org


Rajiv Joseph's All this Intimacy is his "sophomore" effort on the NYC theater scene. His first play was last season's Huck and Holden, a Cherry Lane mentor project. His latest is a big progression over H&H but still not an emotionally satisfying work. Yet, it's nice to see an emerging playwright get a firmer handle on his craft.

The play's protagonist, Ty is a 30 year old writer who has just had a major triumph with his second book of poetry. With this heady, newly won success comes the usual bevy of women. In addition to his long time girlfriend Jen, Ty is confronted by one of his writing students, Becca. He is also being seduced by Maureen his discontentedly married next door neighbor. Thus, in the course of about a week, Ty has slept with all of them (ages around 18-40). It is soon revealed that all three women have become pregnant.

That is the extent of the plot; however it's quite a handful of dramatic action. Joseph's major problem is finding the tone for the piece. It veers between sit-com and drama. At times, Joseph wants to point up Ty's emotional immaturity and the pressures of masculine responsibility. At other times, he seems to revel in the frat-boy smarminess of the situation. This is best exemplified by David Newell's set of moving panels embossed with swimming spermatozoa. The circumstances call for a lighter touch.

Yet Joseph has a comedic feel for dialogue especially when dealing with sexual banter (a highlight of Huck & Holden as well) and a sharp eye for character. A lot of the piece is quite amusing and holds our interest throughout principally for the outcome of Ty's predicament. Thomas Sadoski as Ty is admirably able to hold our interest in an essentially morally confused character. His neediness and hang-dog expressions almost seduce us as he did with the women around him. The women, Amy Landecker as the neighbor, Gretchen Egolf as Ty's girlfriend and Krysten Ritter as his student are uniformly good. Ms. Landecker stands out as the most devastated by the circumstances. Kate Nowlin as Franny knocks the show off kilter with a too broadly played performance as Jen's hostile sister with a secret. Giovanna Sardelli's direction is a bit too meandering and soft focused when it should provide a taut backbone to the script. Still, All This Intimacy is a pleasant enough evening and Mr. Joseph's development is to be encouraged.

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