Kitchen Theatre’s ‘Sex with Strangers’ sizzles on stage

By Sue Henninger
Tompkins Weekly

Director Rachel Lampert calls the two-hander play (a play with only two actors) an exciting and challenging endeavor. Assisted by Assistant Director Melyssa Hall, Lampert has risen to the occasion, and Sex with Strangers sizzles, leaving the audience wanting more as the curtain closes on the final act.
The play begins in a snowy rental cabin in the woods, a book lover’s paradise that makes one want to climb up on stage, sink into the comfortable sofa and read the afternoon away. This is exactly what Olivia (LeeAnne Hutchison) is doing, aided by a glass of red wine, when her calm is shattered by a banging on the door.

Reluctantly she lets Ethan (Darian Dauchan), who apparently reserved the cabin, in. “Disruptive” is the best way to describe how Ethan immediately inserts himself into the more reclusive Olivia’s sphere. A true millennial, he spirals out of control when he discovers that there’s no signal in the cabin for all his electronic gadgets. Once he becomes resigned to the fact that he’ll be offline for a few days and she realizes that he’s here to stay, they begin to compare their writing careers.
Olivia confesses that mixed reviews of her first book, accompanied by disappointing sales, was devastating. She has been reluctant to try to publish anything since then. Ethan divulges that he has been on the New York Times bestseller list (for five years!) for his blog-turned-book based on his frequent “sexcapades.”
“Isn’t there anything you want to keep private?” Olivia asks, horrified. “No,” he responds, highlighting their generational differences, a theme which resurfaces throughout the play.
Even more maddening to Olivia is that, after attempting to follow the traditional path to being published, she’s ended up as a self-described “hobbyist” writer. In contrast, Ethan took to the internet with a vengeance and has everything she always wanted, including an agent, a movie deal, and a million hits on his blog per month. As the conversation evolves, it turns out that Ethan has read her book. He is effusive about the quality and caliber of her writing, hoping someday to move on to a more literary life himself. One thing leads to another, and the two end up in bed, alternating between reading, talking and making love in their woodsy cocoon.
This melding of minds and bodies is shattered when Ethan, without Olivia’s permission, reads the new manuscript she’s been working on. As she rages, he retorts that she can’t write something like this and keep it to herself. “You can have the life for that book that you always wanted,” he assures Olivia, eventually convincing her to reissue her first book online under a pen name.
The next twist in their relationship occurs when it’s time to reenter the real world. Ethan begs her not to read “Sex with Strangers” because he doesn’t want that to be her first impression of him as a writer. Naturally Olivia can’t resist the temptation. Soon after the door closes behind him, she goes online.
Following a brief intermission, Act Two takes place in Olivia’s bright, contemporary apartment. She immediately confronts Ethan about his poor treatment of women in his writing. He reassures her, “That’s not me, that’s Ethan Strange (his pen name). But, after overhearing a conversation between him and his manager, her doubts about the man she’s involved with intensify.
Their relationship sours and they turn on each other. Ethan accuses her of being “just like all those girls, willing to f–k me to get what you want.” Olivia’s rejoinder, though not as crude, is every bit as cutting. When Ethan asks what she really thought of his writing, she says dismissively, “It was fine.” When the couple next meet, Ethan has just sent Olivia his first serious manuscript, which captivated her, and she is involved with another man. Whether the couple’s passion will reignite again is anyone’s guess!
Lisa Boquist (Costume Design) has dressed Ethan and Olivia to look attractive, appealing, and their age (think 20-something urban hipster versus 40-something bohemian artist). The various types of lighting (Tyler M. Perry) add to the mood of the two acts, as does the music, especially during the seduction scenes (Sergey Levitskiy, Sound Design). David L. Arsenault has outdone himself with two compelling set designs. His arrangement of books, lights, and furniture (particularly in the cabin) reinforces that the play is inhabited by people who care deeply for books, in all genres and formats.
Sex with Strangers is full of paradoxes which is what makes it so intriguing. Ethan seemingly has no boundaries, whereas Olivia has built numerous walls between herself and the world. He opens doors, she slams them shut. She wants a book that’s a true sensory experience, he contends that e-books are just as real. Though they give freely of their bodies, they are much more reluctant to share their inner selves.
Dauchan plays Ethan as brash, bold, and willing to put himself out there, to be seen and recognized at any cost. He also reveals a vulnerable side, especially when he talks about being a serious writer. Hutchison portrays Olivia as a woman who is prone to obsession and self-torture. Though she’s leery of taking risks and stepping out of her comfort zone, she reveals a tough and determined inner core when it comes to getting herself published the way she always dreamed of. The constantly shifting power balance between Ethan and Olivia is fascinating to watch. The chemistry, both sexual and intellectual, that the two share is undeniable, providing an extra layer of authenticity and enjoyment for the audience.
Playwright Eason raises some provocative questions. What is “real writing?” What price are people willing to pay for fame? What are the differences between our public and private personas? How well do we ever really know ourselves or another person?
Don’t miss this regional premiere. Step inside Olivia and Ethan’s world for a fast-paced, mesmerizing, and highly entertaining evening!

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On stage at the Kitchen Theatre, through April 2; call (607) 272-0570 or visit www.kitchentheatre.org

Note: Due to the subject matter covered in this show, the recommended audience is people age 16 and older.