In most New York City apartment buildings, surly superintendents and amorous neighbors are unavoidable annoyances; in Kevin Del Aguila's seven-part play, they are a source of hilarity. For 90 minutes, Del Aguila and his talented castmates let us peek into the private yearnings of a variety of tenants.
Although all of the acts are worthy, "The Hand That Feeds You," "Exterminating Circumstances" and "Suite Harmony" blend humor and heartbreak with the most success. Actors Sheila Murphy and Wendy Echols portray a disgruntled dog and cat (cleverly named Phydeaux and Phluphy) as they test the limits of their freedom in "The Hand That Feeds You." Pet owners might want to think twice about leaving their animals at home for extended periods of time after seeing this performance. Actor Colin Stokes is excellent as a gruff exterminator who listens to a client (Marcus Weiss) describe a blind date in "Exterminating Circumstances." As his suspicious date, Ginger, Echols is hilariously difficult to engage in conversation.
"Suite Harmony" is the last and most exuberant act of the evening. Using music composed by Christopher McGovern, two new tenants (Weiss and Echols) burst into song whenever they become emotional. Their aloof dinner guests, an unhappily married couple (Stokes and Murphy), struggle to understand why these strange people are so happy.
Every New Yorker experiences the angst of urban living, but Kevin Del Aguila makes it a lot more palatable in this inventive comedy. Inspired performances from Del Aguila, Murphy, Echols, Weiss and Stokes will also make "6 Story Building" something to sing about.