In Commencing, a blind date gone wrong is the tie that brings leery lesbian Arlin to the door of ostensibly hetero Kelli, played by Emily Tuckman and Sarah E. Jacobs. This hour-long contribution to the 2013 FRIGID New York Festival is an attempt to uncover another layer of understanding between two women who are unexpectedly intrigued and challenged by one another. Unfortunately, it ends up playing more like a lesbian - 101 guidebook for those toeing the queer waters via indie theater.
Tuckman, who also produces, and Jacobs pull off a nice chemistry and a steady dialogue that, admittedly, serves up a few worthy insights (thanks to playwright Jane Shephard). But the underlying dynamic between the women, which has each confessing one deep-seated life problem after another, eventually leaves the audience wondering which of them has the worse life—the one with the HIV and addiction problem, or the one with herpes and alcoholism.
It almost makes you wish they would’ve left each other confused and desperate at the door, instead of rehashing all that’s wrong with their respective universes and bumming us out. At least they end on a somewhat hopeful note, floating somewhere between a future as either frenemies or friends; or maybe both.
“Commencing” is performed by Estraña Theatre Company (estrana.org). See website for future productions. (frigidnewyork.info)
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