Jesse Eisenberg is, by far, one of today’s young contemporary actor-writers who has no qualms about appearing in his own work as an emotionally hapless character at the Cherry Lane Theatre produced by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. He is, of course, the Oscar-nominated Mark Zuckerberg in “The Social Network,” turned playwright . . . and a darn good one. His intelligent humor becomes a zany confluence of characterizations as he, as Edgar, a wannabe journalist, co-exists in a sloppy apartment with his former African-studies teacher Vinny (the unflappable Justin Bartha) who is high on pot most of the time, espousing liberal views that go astray, while banging on a bongo drum and playing-chanting African music.
Edgar doesn’t think much of himself, sleeping on a beanbag chair for a bed, playing yes-man to Vinny and wanting to please him at every turn. He’s a jittery, chatterbox (think Woody Allen) of an emotional wreck seeking Vinny’s approval.
Along comes Edgar’s older brother Stuart (Remy Auberjonois), a successful businessman, who drops in one day and deposits his new young bride, Asuncion (the perky Camille Mana), a pretty Filipana, saying she will be staying with the odd-couple only a few days while he works out some difficulties. It’s a mystery as to why he would even think about having her stay in this shoddy environment with these two mismatched roomies. Her presence turns on a light bulb in Edgar’s head that he might now have a real source of interesting material and sneaks around with a notebook taking down notes about his new sister-in-law. He’s already reached an absurd conclusion that Asuncion must be a mail-order bride from a sex-slave ring in the Philippines and is full steam ahead on that track.
Vinny, however, sees more of a possibility for a sexual liason between himself and the fun-loving Asuncion. Alas, poor Edgar is left out of the growing relationship as Vinny and Asuncion proceed to find lots to laugh about together, while Edgar pleads with Vinny to be included.
Eisenberg is just plain funny as the sad-sack Edgar; Bartha has great body language that he skillfully exudes and Ms. Mana is perfectly adorable and frisky. Director Kip Fagan has shown an adept hand putting the actors through their paces. The messy apartment set creates the ideal mood with Ben Stanton’s lighting.
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater at Cherry Lane Theatre, Commerce Street, NYC thru November 27th.
Comments