Never Swim Alone has been bobbing around the downtown theatre scene for several years. Judging by the instantaneously appreciative audience response to its many comic bits during its first performance as a returnee in this year's New York International Fringe Festival, it has taken on the patina of a cult favorite.
Daniel MacIvor's crafty play sets up a contest of masculine one-upmanship, beginning like standup comedy but becoming increasingly darker. In a format resembling a boxing match, two men dressed in business suits attempt to exhibit their superiority over each other in a series of rounds, verbally sparring over such topics as their height, the cost of their clothes, the greatness of their dads, and how to prevail over a power lunch. Their debates are watched over by a woman in a swimsuit; she's a firm referee, deciding the winner in each round. The winner then has the opportunity to deliver a monologue revealing some part of his life. We learn gradually that the two men are longtime buddies, and eventually that the fates of all three characters have been sealed in their youth through a tragic swimming episode.
The concluding revelation, even though it's repeatedly foreshadowed, seems out of key with the abstract nature of the debates between the men. Nevertheless, in its running time of less than 45 minutes, Never Swim Alone mostly provides smart and absorbing theatre.
The current production, directed by the author, has a faultless cast. Together they make the most of the playwright's gift for mocking the business and social chatter of today's suits while revealing an underlying desperation. Douglas Dickerman and John Maria are perfectly matched as the combatants, capturing the similarities of their psyches yet giving each his own individuality. Susan Louise O'Connor is an indelible presence as the referee, piquant and somehow mysterious.
Presented by Craig Garcia, Tim O'Brien, Britt Lafield, and John Pinckard as part of the New York International Fringe Festival at the Actors' Playhouse, 100 Seventh Ave. South, NYC. Aug. 21-27. Remaining performances: Wed., Aug. 23, 7 p.m.; Fri., Aug. 25, 4:45 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 26, 7 p.m.; Sun., Aug. 27, noon. (212) 279-4488 or www.fringenyc.org.