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Is the Internet really for porn?
by J. J. Janas
looking4sex reviewed November 18, 2004
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| Scene from looking4sex |
| The characters in Jonathan Kronenberger’s new play looking4sex certainly believe so. Or rather, they believe the Internet is really used for hooking up. Bubbling beneath this sordid gay facade is a well-developed, well-woven story line that links six seemingly-separate sexual scenarios.
Beginning and ending with a sex party where invited “guests” are on the Internet, looking4sex runs the gamut of sexual mishaps that can occur as a result of the anonymity provided by online dating, or rather, online mating. Robert (Brian Patacca), the hooker with a heart of gold and a strong sense of self-worth, finds that his newest trick is none other than Peter (Dan Salyer), his married boss from his daytime job. David (Robert Maisonett), the only straight male character in the show, comes home to discover his gay roommate Scott (Andrew Shoffner) has found a new houseboy (Jason Alan Griffin) who cleans the apartment in nothing more than a jockstrap in exchange for mistreatment and humiliation. Long time partners Xerxes (Dan Salyer) and Almónd (Brad Thomason) invite Todd (Jason Alan Griffin) to participate in a ménage-a-trois that goes terribly wrong. And supposedly prudish Claude (Robert Maisonett) agrees to meet the more sexually-liberated Lorenzo (Phoenix Walker) in a club and insists that nothing will happen on this first date. Of course, Elon (Karen Stanion), the token straight female of the play, will not allow Claude’s futile attempts at demureness to last very long.
Given the prevalence of internet-dating sites and porn sites, it would seem that a show about such topics would be unexceptional, even common. And as one character proclaims, “Oh fiddle dee dee. I hate to be common.” Fear not, though, for looking4sex goes beyond the simplicity you would expect. Jonathan Kronenberger has intelligently linked each of the sexual encounters thoroughly. By the end of the show, you find yourself thinking back to the previous vignettes and easily making all the intended connections.
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| Scene from looking4sex |
| Directed by Mr. Kronenberger with a fondness for the melodramedy, looking4sex provides the audience with a showcase of deeper emotions that live within shallow characters. As Xerxes, one of the members of the ménage-a-trois, Dan Salyer takes the audience on a ride through a complete emotional spectrum, beginning with nonchalance and ending with a minor breakdown. In the middle, he gloriously shows you fondness, betrayal, and resignation, all with a humorous bent.
Brian Patacca, playing the part of the underpaid, overworked rentboy, aptly demonstrates the conflicting feelings of enjoying his choice of extracurricular activities and despising the reasons for having to make that choice. And playing many frequently disrobed characters, Jason Alan Griffin effortlessly moves from submissive cleaning boy to caring new best friend to muscled, virile sex god with such skill that you almost forget that each part is played by the same actor.
Set against an intelligently versatile stage designed by Meganne George, who also designed the suitable costumes, with Joyce Liao’s lighting that defines the different moods of each environment, looking4sex delivers on its promise to explore the follies of men searching for Mr. Right even if it is only Mr. Right Now.
As one character quips, “Sometimes people just want to have sex (pregnant pause) with someone hot.”
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Wings Theatre
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Category: Comedy
Written by: Jonathan Kronenberger
Directed by: Jonathan Kronenberger
Produced by: The Wings Theatre Company
Opened: November 12, 2004
Closed: December 11, 2004
Running Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Theater: Wings Theatre
Address: 154 Christopher Street
New York, NY 10014
Yahoo! Maps Directions
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Tickets: $19.00
TDF and Wings Theatre Members receive 20% off
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Creative Team
Written by: Jonathan Kronenberger
Directed by: Jonathan Kronenberger
Produced by: The Wings Theatre Company
Light Designer: Joyce Liao
Sound Designer: Jojo
Set Designer: Meganne George
Costume Designer: Meganne George
Combat Advisors: Brad Lemmons, Dan Renkin
Cast
Andrew Shoffner as Scott
Brian Patacca as Robert
Brad Thomason as Almónd
Phoenix Walker as Lorenzo
Jason Alan Griffin as Book Man, Francisco, Todd
Robert Maisonett as Phil, David, Claude
Dan Salyer as Brad, Peter, Xerxes
Karen Stanion as Elon
Crew
Stage Manager: Parys Le Bron
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