
Photo Source: Scott J. Fetterman
“pool (no water)” follows five close artist friends who came up at the same time as a sixth, much more successful pal who lives in a mansion by the sea, where she does her extremely successful art. One of Ravenhill’s resounding successes in the script (and there are a few) is that he perfectly manages to articulate the unadmitted jealousy and suppressed rage of people whose friends are succeeding. Another is an instantly recognizable evocation of toxic artistic friendships in all their competitiveness and creative hatred.
The actors do well conveying these complexities, although director Ianthe Demos (also artistic director of One Year Lease) is committed to an aggressively process-driven aesthetic that at times seems to approach the absurdity of the not-quite-ready-for-primetime work created by the failed artists in the show. This is clearly part of the original play’s mission, but the mannered dance-movement (choreographed by Natalie Lomonte) is a little too stylized to take full advantage of the actors’ gifts for naturalism, and a little too simple to create any larger themes to complement the text.
It’s difficult to suss out which performances are best here, largely because the five performers work so well as a unit. Christina Bennett Lind knows how to undercut what appears to be a very natural sincerity to good effect, and Estelle Bajou is a fun, sarcastic counterpoint to her. Richard Saudek gets quite a few laughs over the course of the hour-long show. Christopher Baker and Nick Flint acquit themselves well.
Ultimately, the play is both a good showcase for solid acting and a nice Easter egg for Ravenhill enthusiasts to hunt down, but it's hard to recommend to people who aren’t invested in either the playwright or the acting profession. Its high-flown aesthetic is too deeply at odds with its grimy subject matter, and while it’s not a sin to require work from your audience, it is important to reward it for that work.
Presented by One Year Lease at 9th Space, 150 First Ave., NYC. May 9-26. Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat. and Sun, 2:30 p.m.; Tue., May 22, 7:30 p.m. (212) 352-3101 or www.9thspace.org.