Polyamory, Pythagoras and Pistachios

How To Transcend a Happy Marriage

Where to begin? There’s just so much to unpack in this play that it’s difficult to know where to start. I don’t want to give away any of the delectable morsels of the plot, but suffice it to say that Sarah Ruhl’s two-hour, two-act play features a lot, including polyamory, Pythagoras and some pistachios. But there’s much, much more.

As the play opens, an attractive young woman enters upstage carrying a goat. After caressing it and whispering to the animal, she suddenly pulls out a large knife and slits its throat. From that shocking beginning the play becomes even stranger. Two married couples, longtime friends, each with children, are enjoying a relaxing evening together. Jane (Monique Marshaun) and Michael (Joe Zarrow) have welcomed George (Tatiana Pavela) and Paul (Carlos Trevino) into their home for some wine, snacks and stimulating conversation. 

In passing, Jane mentions that they have a new intern at her law firm. Pip (Shaina Toledo) is a very unique and interesting young woman, Jane says. She’s always full of energy, enjoys hunting and proudly slaughtering her own meat, and is in a polyamory relationship with two young men, Freddie (William Delforge), who doesn’t work, and David—pronounced Da-VEED (Joshua  Servantez) who is obsessed with Pythagoras and his perfect figure, the triangle. The two more traditional couples are curious about that kinship, so they decide to invite Pip, Freddie and David over on New Years Eve. Brownies laced with marijuana are served along with pistachios and wine. Then, not so unexpectedly, the event evolves into an orgy. But when Jenna (Lonie Quick), Jane and Michael’s teenage daughter, suddenly bursts into the room we wonder where this story will go from here?

Prolific Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl (EURYDICE, IN THE NEXT ROOM OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY, BECKY NURSE OF SALEM) is known for weaving unexpected, sometimes astonishing elements into her plays. Often she juxtaposes everyday life with mythical motifs. And quite often the playwright injects her plays with surprising surreal twists, which have been labeled Magical Realism. There’s one particular unexpected event occurring in Act II that’s certainly eerie and astonishing.

Ms. Ruhl’s play is superbly Directed by the gifted Elizabeth Swanson (A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Paramount, HEAD OVER HEELS with Kokandy Productions). She expertly guides her talented cast with assurance, while still incorporating her own unique and subtle touch. Ms. Swanson makes the most of the intimate setting, designed by Rose Johnson, that seats the audience along the edge of Jane and Michael’s living room. This bizarre comic drama is strongly led by Tatiana Pavela (DOGS and HAMLET at Red Theater) and Shaina Toledo (BOTTLE FLY at Redtwist, KID PRINCE AND PABLO at Lifeline Theatre). Together the two actresses generate most of the comedy and drama of this play, while strongly embodying the “Defiant Femmes” label of Redtwist’s 21st Season. And Joshua Servantez’s David is especially potent and powerful as part of the throuple and a passionate mathematics scholar.

The problem with Sarah Ruhl’s play is that, unlike her prior offerings, this comic drama tries to focus on too many issues that never go anywhere. Topics are introduced, discussed for a minute and then dropped—never to be heard of again. This is particularly true in the second act. It begins in a forest, segues to a jail cell, and then ultimately settles back again inside Jane and Michael’s familiar living room. Society’s more commonplace monogamous coupling is bantered about, but found to be boring and mundane. So the titillating throuple, or the triad relationship, is discussed and thought exciting enough to be explored first-hand. But nothing really comes of that either. The topic of women’s rights,  motherhood, friendship, a vegan life style versus eating animals, and so many other issues, all surface and then vanish.They burst forth like bubbles, with infectious excitement, and then quietly disappear. All of the themes or subjects, while interesting, just never quite come together into one cohesive presentation.

Redtwist’s opening production of their promising 21st Season definitely offers audiences an interesting evening of theatre. It’s a play in which everyone connected to the production, from its talented Director to a brilliant cast and crew, are all to be lauded. But after so many interesting and successful prior plays, this time around Sarah Ruhl’s script simply doesn’t fully satisfy. She offers too much. Yes, we leave the theatre talking about the exciting production, the gifted actors and the many fascinating ideas that were presented. But polyamory, Pythagoras and pistachios simply don’t add up to a fully satisfying meal.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented August 17-September 21 by Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago.  

Tickets are available in person at the box office or by going to www.RedtwistTheatre.org.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com