SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2006
Men
 Reviewed by Nicholas Linnehan
Manhattan Rep produced an original work entitled, Men. This play, written and directed by Ken Wolf, depicts 20 monologues about the “shortcomings” of men. If you want to laugh at people and yourself, go see this play. What makes this play work, instead of just being a forum for women to vent, is the human elements found in these hysterical pieces. Mr. Wolf manages to masterfully weave subtle truths about human nature that make the pieces funny and poignant.
Now, as everyone knows, no writing or directing could be brilliant without talented actors. Jennifer Pierro opens the jam with great comic timing and a whole lot of pizzazz as a witty-jaded female dealing with inferior males. Also, unforgettable was Elizabeth Hoyt as a dominatrix and Sarah Paige as an optimistic cheerleader faced with the bitter reality that men are scum. These actors bring great energy and honesty to their work.
Despite some uneven casting, this play has something for everyone, male and female, old and young. It is most definitely entertaining and most certainly a treat!
POSTED BY NICHOLAS LINNEHAN AT 2/19/2006 03:18:00 AM  



 Game, Set, Match 'The Match Game': The Independent Theatre by Tausha Cowan STAFF WRITER

As anyone who has been on a bad date - or several - knows, the dating world can be exciting or awful, romantic or ridiculous. But once in a while you find someone who makes the whole rigmarole worth it. In "The Match Game," written and directed by Ken Wolf, two friends embark on a tumultuous journey to find such a solid relationship. The play opens as protagonist Ted Fox's blind date ends differently than he had hoped, to say the least. Fox has recently divorced his cheating wife and is looking for a new relationship full of passion and fidelity. His friend Maxine has also been through a divorce and is looking for love. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the conventions of the genre of romantic comedy, neither character seems particularly capable of finding it. With the help of his friend Big Bobby B., Ted meets with a nightmarish series of blind dates including a violent punk rocker, a dominatrix and a southerner who very much wants children. In desperation, he even joins several dating services. But all his attempts at meeting "the one" end horribly. The person he finds himself confiding in the most is Maxine. Like Ted, she wants someone to be her life partner, but the task seems easier said than done. Ultimately, the two friends realize they must follow their hearts and, metaphorically, take the leap off the edge of the cliff, even though it sounds daunting. The show evolves into a funny and charming play about relationships: the good, the bad and the ugly. The five-person cast includes David Perrin as the love-confused Ted, Synge Maher as Maxine and other characters, Tom Lacalamita as Big Bobby B., Jennifer Pierro as various characters and Phillippe Cu Leong as the waiter. Each character has distinct traits that are quirky, hilarious, scary or all three. Ted often gets nervous and rambles during his blind dates. His frustration and longing are palpable after each disastrous dinner. Maxine is looking for an intelligent and responsible man who will accept her as herself. Big Bobby B. has a way with the ladies and is often full of quotes he finds applicable to the present situation. The myriad of dates Ted experiences are played wonderfully by Maher, Lacalamita and Pierro. The characters are all different but equally amusing, providing comical examples of the ultimate bad date. "The Match Game" is the Manhattan Repertory Theatre company's first on-going play. The Off-Broadway show received a welcoming response during its initial run in 2002 as part of "The Stagestruck Project," which also included a full theatrical production of "Stagestruck," a play written by Wolf about the theater company putting on "The Match Game" and a television pilot also titled "Stagestruck." Manhattan Rep was founded in 1998 and has been the home of more than 20 New York productions.
The Washington Square News April 9, 2004