Stage Kiss – Location, Tickets, Reviews
Art and life intertwine in Stage Kiss, a play by Sarah Ruhl having its New York premiere this February at Playwrights Horizons. In the play, two actors with a personal history are chosen to play the leads in a romantic melodrama. Quickly, real life and on stage drama merge into a meta comedy.
Maxamoo
The hype surrounding Stage Kiss (it’s world premiere in Chicago in 2011 produced highly favorable reviews) ends up being just about right. This is a funny show, with clever writing from Ruhl and a cast that should teach a master class in comic timing. Though technically a comedic look at real romance versus fantasy (and real kisses versus stage ones), Stage Kiss is mostly an uproarious send-up of backstage theater cliches. There’s the obnoxiously overzealous auditioner, the wishy-washy director, the scene-stealing supporting actor, and lots of making out in the wings.
We’re tempted to say that Stage Kiss is one big theater in-joke, but even if you’ve never been near a stage in your life, there’s a lot to love about this show. Though it’s wild and its tone is distinctly heightened, Stage Kiss is often thoughtful and even unexpectedly moving. But it’s the comedy and the cast that should draw you over to Playwrights Horizons.
Public Opinion
The twittershpere is supportive, including a shout-out to the stylists and an endorsement from Joan Rivers:
@maybeAyaCash: Screw the Oscars. I saw .@MCCisNauseous in #StageKiss at .@PHnyc tonight and he deserves to win Best Actor in everything.
@mrbplus: Obsessed with the giant handbag Jessica Hecht sports in first scene of @PHnyc Stage Kiss. Also with her Breck Girl hair.
@Joan_Rivers: Had a few days in NYC, so what did I so? Caught up on some truly GREAT theater, starting with “Stage Kiss” at Playwrights Horizons @phnyc.
Have you seen Stage Kiss? What did you think? Comment below or tweet to us at @Maxamoo.
Critics’ Reviews
Though many reviews acknowledge that Stage Kiss is a departure for Ruhl, they are almost uniformly positive:
New York Times
They’re Carrying On as if It’s in the Script
New York Post
Sarah Ruhl delivers a brilliant comedy with ‘Stage Kiss’
Time Out New York
Ruhl casts a winking eye on the stages of love
Huffington Post
“Sarah Ruhl’s wonderful new romantic comedy, a play within a play, sends up revivals and romance, as well as the affectations of theater.”
Theater Pizzazz
Smart and Silly
New York Theater
Sarah Ruhl’s Slapstick Smooching
NYtheater Now
“[Ruhl] has a lot of fun spoofing the clichés of high-toned old-timey romantic drama and the foibles of theatre people, especially actors.”
TheaterMania
“The gorgeously articulate author of The Clean House and Eurydice is in top form with this delightful piece, which also happens to be the least “Sarah Ruhl-like” play she’s written.”
New York Magazine
The Joys of Terrible Theater, Celebrated in Stage Kiss
TICKETS
$75-$95 (click here to purchase)
DATES
Extended through April 6, 2014
LOCATION
Playwrights Horizons
416 West 42nd Street
New York City
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RUNNING TIME
2 hours, 1 intermission
NEWS
Maxamoo
Early Buzz: Stage Kiss
CAST & CREW
(partial list)
Written by Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Rebecca Taichman
Featuring Todd Almond, Clea Alsip, Michael Cyril Creighton, Dominic Fumusa, Emma Galvin, Jessica Hecht, Daniel Jenkins, Patrick Kerr