If Phil had not been cavorting on the sofa with a prostitute when his wife came home early to prepare for their drinks party, the evening get-together probably wouldn’t have turned into a spouse swap. Jeff Gould’s sweet but very lightweight comedy, subtitled “A New Comedy About Lust & Trust,” which has been playing in Los Angeles for two years, has arrived in New York, and it is not an updated version of “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice” or“The Ice Storm.”
The sexual content is fairly matter-of-fact. After the adultery has taken place (in three separate bedrooms, suggested with passionate scenes in shadow behind color-infused screens), all three couples come back into the living room to discuss things.
The cast is personable. Jackie Debatin and Matt Walton are the understandably tense hosts, Joan and Phil. Gina LaPiana and Salvator Xuereb are Kelly and Carl, who can’t keep their hands off each other after all these years. Elaine Hendrix and Michael Colby Jones are Lisa and Greg, whose deteriorating marriage is the most complex thing in the script. Molly Fahey is Amanda, the hooker, who has only four lines but is convincingly enthusiastic, and, for hookers, isn’t that the whole idea?
Rick Shaw adds nice directorial touches, like having Phil prepare his smile and his hearty greeting for the arriving guests before they even appear. And Mr. Gould’s characters offer one thought-provoking exchange.
“Why do men act like it’s the ultimate sacrifice to settle down and not to sleep with a hundred different women?” Kelly asks the group. Carl explains the need by comparing it to women’s need to talk.
He asks Kelly, “What if I was the only one you could talk to” for the rest of your life?
As a woman, I can only say, Noooooooooo!
These women may not be that great at talking, though. Early on, they play 20 Questions. When Lisa goes first, the answer is “broccoli.” No wonder these people are bored.