Kithless in Paradise

One wonders what dinner parties playwrights like Molly Moroney are attending to give them the impression that a few bottles of wine will promote almost every conceivable kind of bad behavior. Playwrights such as Yasmina Reza ("God of Carnage") at least make their drunken characters funny and interesting; all Moroney's trio of couples can do in the limp "Kithless in Paradise" is talk with a slur about how much money they have, how much money they've spent, where they've spent it, and how they're so much better off than poor people. Not only are they wealthy, you see, but they also have good friends.

Set during two weekends a year apart, "Kithless" finds the wealthy Tim (David Wirth) and Janice (Liz Forst) hosting their friends Phil (Brit Herring) and Polly (Tracy Newirth), along with less beloved kith Ken (Bob Manus) and Sandy (Jill Melanie Wirth). When the talk isn't revolving around shopping or old times, it's riddled with "Sex and the City"–style genteel dirty talk, like Sandy's abrupt insistence that thong underwear promotes oral sex. The effect is supposed to be hilarious, but the characters are so one-dimensional that the play threatens to topple over into sketch comedy.

Though competently staged by Niki Flacks, the poorly constructed "Kithless" never goes anywhere. The first act is an amiable, boozy chatfest, but the second act suddenly introduces new dramas, conflicts, and pastimes. You know you're in trouble when the happy ending is dependent upon one character's suddenly announced passion for body building.

The actors all fare measurably well, particularly Jill Melanie Wirth as Sandy, who calmly and frequently discusses her imminent death from leukemia. Alas, she doesn't reappear in the second act, taking with her the sole human element to the play and leaving behind only frivolity and an endless sea of wine and whine.

Presented by Bill Norrett/Cyrano Players Inc. at the Lion Theatre, 410 W. 42nd St., NYC. Sept. 20–Oct. 9. Tue., 7 p.m.; Wed.–Sat., 8 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., 2 p.m. (212) 239-6200, (800) 432-7250, or www.telecharge.com.