By: Darryl Reilly
Neil Patrick Harris and Jane Krakowski each receive thunderous audience reaction when they make their separate first appearances in this world premiere of the lacerating, funny and confounding play, Shit. Meet. Fan. Indeed, Mr. Harris as a plastic surgeon and Ms. Krakowski as a psychotherapist use their familiar and appealing personas to optimum effect as a smart, upper-class Manhattan married couple with a wry 17-year-old daughter, in this abrasive battle of the sexes.
With shades of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Mart Crowely’s The Boys in the Band, and John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation, the setup of Shit. Meet. Fan is a cocktail party held at Harris and Krakowski’s lavish apartment celebrating an eclipse. We learn that their marriage is strained during the opening argument over the discovery of a box of condoms in the daughter’s purse. The guests at the alcohol-fueled gathering are Harris’ three Ivy League former frat brothers and their spouses; one shows up solo. The crux of the play is Krakowski instigating the party game of everyone placing their smart phones on a coffee table, all incoming calls and texts are to be made public to those in attendance. Of course, infidelities and dark revelations abound, including that one of the frat brothers is gay.
Debra Messing’s spirited characterization of one of the wives includes riotous physical comedy. Swaggering Garret Dillahunt is in pleasing douche bro overdrive as her husband. Genevieve Hannelius is superbly bratty as the teenaged daughter. Michael Oberholtzer’s unabashed toxic masculinity is integral to his winning portrayal of one of the frat brothers. The vivacious Constance Wu mines all the possible comedy and pathos possible as his Asian American wife. Tramell Tillman is soulful as the Black, single member of the male quartet. These last two characters allow for racial divisions to be explored, albeit in a synthetic fashion, in keeping with the entire play’s hollowness.
Perfect Strangers is a 2016 Italian film was directed and co-written by Paolo Genovese. It has been remade for the screen in over 20 countries, and there have also been several international theater versions. Noted American playwright Robert O’Hara’s English language stage adaptation is faithful in plot and tone, exhibiting the piece’s tired and derivative qualities. Mr. O’Hara’s energetic direction emphasizes action and humor, while striving for depth. With its cutsey title, Shit. Meet. Fan. is a perfect evening for upper-class subscribers to a trendy non-profit theater company, as the characters and situations are definitely relatable for them. Anyone else is likely to be put off by the obviousness of the play’s fulcrum and its boorish, superficial figures; a meta, twist ending doesn’t help.
Scenic designer Clint Ramos’ opulently-detailed dwelling is flanked by gorgeous Manhattan cityscape projections; connoisseurs of real estate porn will be ecstatic. Alex Jainchill’s appropriately bracing lighting design complements the numerous events with verve. Sound designer Palmer Hefferan ably realizes effects and incidental music. Sarafina Bush’s costume design is authentically rarefied.
The inconsequential Shit. Meet. Fan. is a fitfully entertaining vehicle for its mostly celebrity cast.
Shit. Meet. Fan. (through December 15, 2024)
Manhattan Class Company (MCC)
The Newman Mills Theater, 511 W 52nd Street, in Manhattan
For tickets, visit www.mcctheater.org
Running time: one hour and 45 minutes with no intermission