Theater Online - New York Theater Reviews

Playwright John Ford Noonan - perhaps best known for "A Coupla White Chicks Sitting Around Talking" - is a prolific playwright. "Messages" is the New York Premiere of an early work.

It is really a series of 3 one acts loosely connected by the theme of communication. In the first act, the scene opens when newly promoted Randy Crowder (Flint Beverage) comes home to his wife. He speaks to her through a closed door and delivers a very long monologue about his promotion, his new commitment to fidelity, and his hope for the future. When he finally opens the door he finds a tape recorder rather than his wife. When he plays it, there is a message from his wife Laura (Jennifer Earhart) telling him that she is leaving him. Midway through the recording the actress begins to deliver her monologue live.

In the second act, we meet Angel Lembeck (Kristen Sargent) in the midst of a phone sex encounter while awaiting her husband Richie (Flint Beverage). She is one of New Jersey's most famous erotic dancers and he is a basketball coach who has been offered a job opportunity in a new town. They spar both physically and verbally and their dialogue is the highlight of the evening. Both actors are wonderful in these roles making the most of each laugh and each verbal assault. A phone message from a women's basketball coach and another from Angel's phone sex partner tack on the communications theme.

In Act 3 we meet Mava (Kristen Sargent) and Didi (Jennifer Earhart) dressed as if from a costume party. Didi gets a phone message from someone in her past who calls her by her real name "Edith" but does not want to say who they are or why they are calling.

It appears that Mr. Noonan did have a earlier production of this play in New York for good reason. It has no particular point, not much linkage between the skits and is unworthy of the talents of the cast. The reason to see this show is to see these three performers. I hope that in the future they can find a vehicle that is fit for their abilities.