Theresa Rebeck’s “Bad Dates” might as well be called, “No Sex in the City.” It’s so derivative of the HBO series, Candace Bushnell might want a cut.
This frenetic comic monologue never leaves the bedroom of Haley, a sexually frustrated, divorced mother who’s ready to try the New York dating scene again. Each scene shows a hopeful Haley preparing for her next inevitably disastrous encounter, while recounting for us the comic details of her most recent one. The audience doubles as her collective BFF (best friend forever).
It’s a cute if slight premise that falls all over its high heels to charm you, then sell you on a preposterous ending. But from the first rambling scene about Haley’s shoe fetish, you’re thinking, “Carrie Bradshaw.”
Worst, it deviates from one of the basic axioms of playwriting: “Show, don’t tell.” Rather than show us what might make for some hilarious interchanges, Rebeck only lets Haley tell us. It feels more like a funny NPR essay than a play.
That’s a lot of pressure to put on one actor. In Modern Muse’s co-produced regional premiere with the Creede Repertory Theatre, I loved the actor, Diana Dresser. I just didn’t care much for Haley, because she’s not that interesting. Worse, neither are her “bad dates” tales. So one guy talks about his colon, another is gay, another lied to her. So what?
And while Dresser gets an A for effort (and adorability), she’s really not the best choice for this part. If your protagonist is going to complain about how no man wants her, and she’s written to parade around half-naked for two hours doing so, there’s something of a disconnect if the woman on stage happens to be a goddess.
Haley is a 40ish mother of a 12-year-old. Dresser looks like a runway model in her prime.
Haley is a chef at a New York restaurant. Dresser probably hasn’t ingested a gram of trans fat in two decades. The thought of New York men – even the good ones – not flocking to her is one giant disconnect.
A more worn and everyday Haley might cause audiences to empathize and identify with her fears and insecurities. That would give the comedy more truth and resonance.
But “Bad Dates” should still make for a fun girls’ night out. I thought, “Menopause the Musical” – without the menopause or the musical. It’s a chance for slightly younger women to commune about common tribulations of their age.
On opening, some of those women were laughing at every line – even the ones not meant to be funny. Most of us found enough reasons to giggle to keep entertained. Then there were the poor guys doubling up on the coffee at intermission. It all depends on where you are coming from.
Speaking of opening, despite the pedigree of everyone involved at Modern Muse, this was one of those unfortunate “if it can go wrong …” nights. Dresser sallied through ongoing sound and set difficulties like a champ, most admirably when she was forced to answer her ringing cell phone when it wasn’t supposed to ring.
The set concept is clever – an enormous shoebox that opens into Haley’s bedroom. But it wasn’t cooperating this night. The show had to be stopped before Dresser even made her entrance. Glitches like these rarely repeat themselves, but they also rarely happen in this volume.
While the monologue grows monotonous, then infuriating, Dresser saves what she can of the night on charm and physical comedy, somehow shining brightest when the story is at its most preposterous.
But when it comes right down to it: Dresser alone on a Friday night? No. Not buying it.
“Bad Dates” | ** RATING
ONE-WOMAN COMEDY|Modern Muse and Creede Repertory Theatre|Written by Theresa Rebeck|Directed by Maurice LaMee|Starring Diana Dresser| At the Bug Theatre, 3954 Navajo St.|THROUGH FEB. 25|8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays|2 hours|$20|303-780-7836 or modernmusetheatre.com
3more
“1001” The world premiere of Jason Grote’s riff on the “Arabian Nights” stories. 6:30 p.m. Mondays-Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays, 1:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays through Feb. 24 at the Space Theatre, Denver Performing Arts Complex. $36-$46 (303-893-4100, 866-464-2626, all King Soopers or denvercenter.org; 800-641-1222 outside Denver).
“DIRTY STORY” John Patrick Shanley presents the U.S. role in the Arab-Israel conflict as a campy sadomasochistic love quadrangle. 7:30 p.m. Fridays- Saturdays (some Thursdays, Sundays) through March 10 at the Bas Bleu Theatre, 401 Pine St., Fort Collins. $10-$19 (970-498-8949 or bas bleu.org).
“DIRTY BLONDE” Claudia Shear’s hybrid comedy, presented by Theatre Group, is part Mae West docudrama, love story and vaudeville. Stars Kristine Pound. 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through March 10 at 13 S. Broadway. $15 (303-777-3292 or theatregroup.org).
–John Moore
