2 Burn

No doubt about it: Sex sells. Elixir Productions Theatre Company had a packed house of mostly gay men for the inaugural performance of Alex DeFazio's gay-themed noir drama "2 Burn," which the company has advertised with a provocative photo of a naked teenage boy being fellated by a man whose head barely edges into the frame. That photo, however, is more tease than promise, thanks to a synthetic script that's neither particularly believable nor titillating.

College freshman Manny wants to study with Paul, an academic philosophy professor whose one published tome obsesses the boy. Manny, however, is failing poetry, taught by Paul's protege Maureen, and unless he can pass it he can't take Paul's class. Manny is interested in the pursuit of power, and in short order he's got Paul, who is just coming off a bad breakup, in the sack, insinuating himself into the prof's life, much to Maureen's dismay. Paul, of course, ultimately doesn't measure up to Manny's imagination, and the relationship deteriorates. When Sarah, who says she's carrying Manny's child, suddenly shows up, a story that we know must end badly takes the turn that leads everyone to doom.

Directors Jennifer Joyce and Jody P. Person at least keep the soap-operatics bubbling, and Person also plays the pursed Paul, going heavy on the desperation. Patrick Martin is driven and seductive as the psychopathic Manny. Deena Jiles' tough, no-nonsense Maureen is a welcome island of sanity, and Michelle Wood makes Sarah a formidable if shrill adversary. If only it were all in the service of something less hollow and more human.
 
Presented by Elixir Productions Theatre Company as part of the New York International Fringe Festival at the Living Theatre, 21 Clinton St., NYC. Aug. 13–27. Remaining performances: Sat., Aug. 20, 11 p.m.; Sun., Aug. 21, 9:45 p.m.; Wed., Aug. 24, 5:15 p.m.; Thu., Aug. 25, 2 p.m. (866) 468-7619 or www.fringenyc.org.