Theater: “Sh*t. Meet. Fan” with Jane Krakowski, Debra Messing, and Neil Patrick Harris.
Time was, young’uns, when MCC, located in NYC’s West Village, was THE place for edgy, badass theater. I’m speaking of course about playwrights like Neil LaBute, and comedies like “Hand to God.”
When MCC moved uptown, something happened. Change in management? Something new in the water supply?
No matter. I’m pleased to report that the “old” MCC is back—with the no-holds-barred, Gen-X comedy “Sh*t. Meet. Fan.” directed and written by Robert O’Hara.
O’Hara, who wrote “Barbecue,” one of the funniest, most raucous plays of the last decade, is back on his game, too. And he’s brought a star-studded cast. The theme: truth-telling.
Eve (played by “30 Rock’s” Jane Krakowski) has found a box of condoms in the handbag of her teenage daughter Samantha (Genevieve Hannelius). Outraged by the invasion of her privacy, Sam tells her mother off, then storms out of the family’s chic DUMBO apartment to party with friends.
Meanwhile, Eve and her husband Rodger (Neil Patrick Harris) are about to host a party of their own, whose ostensible purpose is to watch an eclipse. The guests are three of Rodger’s ex-fraternity brothers and their spouses/girlfriends. When Eve brings up the condom incident, one guest counters that “everyone has secrets.”
This gives Eve an idea to liven up the party: For one hour, phones out. Face up. Volume up. Every text. Every call. Read aloud. Like an updated version of “Truth or Dare.” Uh-oh.
Once the smartphones start ringing and pinging, some rather embarrassing revelations are made and awkward questions raised. Are newlyweds Frank (Michael Oberholzer) and Hannah (Constance Wu) really faithful to one another? What does Claire (Debra Messing) think about her lawyer husband Brett (Garrett Dillahunt) and her mother-in-law who’s moved in with them? Why hasn’t Logan (Tramell Tillman), the unemployed prep school coach brought his new girlfriend to the party?
If you think this sounds a bit heavy, you’d be correct: at times, “SMF” sometimes feels like a cross between “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “Boys in the Band.” But the talents of comedy-TV veterans Krakowski, Messing and Harris keep you chuckling (somewhat nervously) throughout. That is, when you’re not gasping at the vulgarity and raunchiness of the play itself.
Bravo to Robert O’Hara and MCC for bringing back humor at a time when it’s getting colder and darker at 430 pm. On the other hand, the change in weather means the holidays are approaching. So use that an excuse time to give yourself a gift: laughter. “Sh*t. Meet. Fan,” inspired by the 2016 dramedy “Perfect Strangers,” directed by Paolo Genovese. Extended through December 15 at MCC.
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