Karma ( Cherrye J. Davis) is painting a storefront mural (we have no idea that’s where she’s working) of “a leather daddy Mickey Mouse riding gimped out Uncle Sam… Never underestimate the awesome power of bubblegum pop.” She’s cool and confident. Headphones are tuned to Carly Rae Jepson. This is a contemporary piece with an age old message.
Felix (Justy Kosek) runs in/over from a raucous street demonstration focused on school district budget. He’s a disheveled preppy who admittedly just “wanted a new experience.” Karma calls him “a diversity tourist,” which, it turns out, describes the young man to a T. Raised “soft” and rich, he’s guilt-ridden about family money. “… going to college and learning how the world really worked messed me up.”
Refusing trust money, constrained from giving away what he has, Felix is determined to at least react against the establishment. He intends to write a book for young adults “about changing the world for the better…but like in the least traumatic way possible.” Karma is quick and sarcastic – though not mean. She finishes and starts to pack up, but there’s clearly attraction. She leads. They go home together.
The couple cohabit. Felix goes to work for City Hall, trying to attack problems from the inside. Ostensibly years pass. Karma grows increasingly more famous. They snap at one another personally and idealistically, then enjoy make-up sex. Felix is uncomfortable with his partner’s skill (“selling out”) in acquiring what her work needs. “I’m taking what I’m offered for everyone who got theirs taken away,” she responds. At last, frustrated by political impotence, he attends a demonstration drunk, then takes matters into his own hands with disastrous consequences.
The play takes place, I kid you not, in Spam Gulch County, New Fringus, Nebrahoma, USA. Its mayor is Farkle Fringus. There’s a New Fringus Carnival of Cornhusks. Really?! The names seem from another play entirely. They jar. This is NOT satire. Otherwise Alex Perez is a helluva writer. While I don’t believe in talking down to an audience, the consistently sophisticated language and incisively articulated ideas here will limit its appeal – a pity, as theme and characters are realistic and worthy. Listen up!
Ten to fifteen minutes could successfully be cut.
Director Paula Ali has an excellent sense of timing. Dialogue ranges from conversation to pinball eruption to innuendo. Ali handles all with skill. The small space is used effectively. Evoking heat, however, is one sided. The less well realized Felix displays no believable lust – an almost constant reciprocal state.
Cherrye J. Davis (Karma) is terrific. The actor creates a whole character. Every gesture and look sync with a woman (and artist) who knows who she is and what she wants. Complicated speeches sound natural; reactions always land.
Justy Kosek’s Felix is not as well defined, something that stands out in the fiery two-character piece. While the script declares him “squirrely,” no one is a single note. The relationship goes through many changes, Felix evinces none.
Scenic design (Daniel Allen) manifests an extremely hip set while story, though modern, and language are not. It throws one.
Sound design by Monica Athenas is excellent.
Photos by Chris Garofalo
The Bad in Each Other by Alex Perez
Directed by Paula Ali
The Tank
312 West 36th Street 1st floor
Through August 3, 2024
