Rajiv Joseph's glib, sharply paced new play is so entertaining and well-constructed that small-minded and pretentious theatregoers will surely deem it akin to a television show.
The setup does sound sitcomish: Ty, a successful young poet and teacher at Columbia, is the kind of man who attracts women. Handsome, sophisticated, and writerly, he has a lovely girlfriend, Jen. Not satisfied, however, he also tries to romance a married neighbor, Maureen, and a comely young student, Becca. Alas, all three get pregnant at the same time.
As in a very good (and very rare) sitcom, Joseph peppers his script with sharp jokes and quite funny situations. Unlike a sitcom, he also manages to thoroughly probe these characters in 90 or so minutes. In particular, Maureen is exposed as a melancholy, somewhat pathetic figure who ends up losing custody of her child; Becca as a spoiled rich kid; and Ty as so gloriously self-absorbed as to be repellent.
Director Giovanna Sardelli's cast is mostly attentive to the play's wit and flair. Thomas Sadoski plays Ty as somewhat self-deprecatory, making him sympathetic enough to drive the action. Amy Landecker and Krysten Ritter are electric as Maureen and Becca. Gretchen Egolf underplays Jen, especially compared to the rest of this boisterous, exuberant group. Adam Green as Ty's buddy Seth and Kate Nowlin as Seth's fiancée, Franny, have their moments but seem to be trying too hard.
David Newell's outrageous set includes pretty panels depicting various examples of, well, sperm. It's a bit juvenile, but it's funny and it works, as does the whole play.
Presented by Second Stage Theatre Uptown
at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, NYC.
July 27-Aug. 12. Mon.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m.
(212) 246-4422 or www.secondstagetheatre.com.
Casting by Tara Rubin Casting.