Monday, August 22, 2016

Applause! Applause! Review of The Fucking Problem at Under St. Mark's Theater by Dr. Thomas Robert Stevens

This review of The Fucking Problem at Under St. Mark's Theater was written by Dr. Thomas Robert Stevens and published in Volume X, Issue 6 (2016) of the online edition of Applause! Applause!

The Fucking Problem
A New Play by Emily Lucia Alexander & Nate Dobson
Performed by Emily Lucia Alexander & Nate Dobson
Directed by Jessica O'Hara Baker
Under St. Mark's Theater
94 St. Mark's Place
New York, New York 10009
Reviewed 8/19/16

We hear the moans and primal passion sounds of two people having sex and later learn they are actors filming a pornographic movie forced to take a break and return to their respective dressing rooms when Brando, the male star, accidentally ejaculated in his female partner's eye ruining one of her artificial eyelashes. While she reapplies her makeup, Brando eats a burrito. Both HE and SHE then speak directly to the audience in alternating monologues in which they talk about how they got into the porn industry, how they draw boundaries (including the use of "safe words"), and how they once dated and then broke up via Twitter. In fact, this shoot is their last film together since they have decided to go their separate ways. 

SHE was brought up by a feminist mom who didn't allow her to have traditional "girl toys" and who railed against how women were portrayed in the media. Eventually, she posed as a naked model and found she had no qualms performing sexual acts on camera. Since she was being featured on the Internet, she told her parents. Her mom disapproved of the objectification of women and the male fantasies catered to in the porn industry while her father hates what she does because it "ruined porn" for him. She likes feeling pretty and understands she is "selling a product and promoting a brand." She told the audience "the best sex comes through communication." In her case, she communicates through "purrs, growls, and squeals."

HE admits he has an unusual look for a porn star but is full of cockiness and self-confidence. He taught himself to "cum on command." Being an exhibitionist, he invited guests to watch him masturbate as they counted down from 30 - and then, fireworks! As he said, "It's called the 'money shot' for a reason. That's how I make my money!" There were a number of bad puns ("fucking awesome" - "fucking business") and a whole section during which he was trying to remember what he wanted to tell us about "burritos and butt-fucking" that I could have done without. There was a good line about how you can tell your relationship with a woman may be in trouble. He suggested something may be wrong "if you are in a girl, wrist deep, and start wondering whether she reads Dostoevsky or the logistics of how Trump intends to build his wall." While she complained he was moody and mean, at times, his response was that "no one is always fucking shiny."

Whatever you may have heard, there is no physical nudity in this show. In addition, the two actors don't share any scenes and never directly interact with one another. They are speaking to you sharing their stories and respective journeys. Emily Lucia Alexander and Nate Dobson, the writers and performers of this play, are charismatic and talented actors who, to my knowledge, never rented themselves out or made a porn film. However, both are extremely attractive and good-looking. If acting doesn't work out for them, I am certain any escort service would be pleased to hire them. The play is thought-provoking and intense because after we get to know these two characters, we learn the reason she broke up with him is because she perceived he once ignored her "safe word" and proceeded to have sex with her anyway. She didn't object at the time or report it to the police and said nothing about it to him continuing to live with him and have sex as if nothing had happened. Then weeks later, she tweeted she was breaking up with "Brando" (his porn name) because he forced himself on her, effectively calling him a rapist. He vigorously denied the charge. 

And there you have it! That's The Fucking Problem! Was she raped? If they were regularly having sex in a particular manner, why would she need to use her safe word, and if he ignored her safe word, why wouldn't she bring it up there and then? If the rape was violent and truly revealed an inner demon, shouldn't she have called the police and moved out immediately? Her argument was that she "went along to get along" so as not to trigger another rape. I find that justification implausible. Finally, she puts all this out on Twitter using his porn name instead of his real name. Seems like she was seeking revenge for something and trying to destroy his "Brando brand." These are some of the reasons why The Fucking Problem is compelling and demands your complete attention. Another layer of complexity is added when you consider he and she know absolutely every aspect of what the other likes and enjoys in bed. Perhaps he, who previously admitted the submissive "really calls all the shots" because of the "safe word," secretly fantasized breaking through that "stop sign" to allow himself the power for once. Maybe he wasn't even aware he made that choice and just lost himself in the moment. Who knows? But it will give you and your friends something to talk about over dinner after you have seen this play.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Fucking Problem and I encourage you to see it. Both actors do a fine job portraying their characters and I hope to see both of them in other roles in the months and years ahead. Nate Dobson and Emily Lucia Alexander, as playwrights and performers, are destined for success and recognition in the New York City theater community. The Fucking Problem is part of the 2016 New York International Fringe Festival and can be seen on Friday, August 26, 2016 at 3:15 p.m. at the Under St. Mark's Theater. Tickets cost $18.00 and can be purchased at www.FringeNYC.org 

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