Susan Granger’s review of “Straight White Men” (Westport Country Playhouse)
When arriving at the Westport Country Playhouse to see “Straight White Men,” you’re greeted by deafening hip-hop music, blasting loud enough to make you uncomfortable. That’s the intent of provocative playwright Young Jean Lee, the first Asian-American woman ever produced on Broadway.
Its purpose is gently explained by two, charming non-binary hosts (Akiko Akita, Ashton Muniz), referred to as “Persons in Charge,” who will dispense ear plugs on request. Welcome to Experimental Theater!
The play – a naturalistic family comedic/drama – is set in the basement rec room of a middle-class home where the three grown sons of widower Ed (Richard Kline) gather for Christmas. Two enjoy successful careers.
Divorced Jake (Bill Army) is a ruthless banker who has two mixed-race children with his African-American ex-wife. Drew (Nick Westrate) is a successful professor/novelist who is firmly convinced that ‘therapy’ can solve most of life’s problems.
They’re all concerned about sensitive, socially-conscious Matt (Denver Milord), the oldest and once considered the most promising of the trio. Despite having graduated from Harvard, he’s working a temp job at a local social services agency, slowly paying off student loans and living at home with his father. Lamenting his “waste of talent,” to his family Matt is, basically, considered a loser.
After some reminiscences, they settle down to play Privilege Monopoly, a board-game variation designed by their late avowedly liberal mother to emphasize the expectations that come with their inherent advantages – before the rowdy siblings erupt into physical interplay, punching and pummeling one another.
Seamlessly directed by Mark Lamos, this is curiously challenging, somewhat ambiguous theater, and its somewhat frustrating, unresolved conclusion forces audiences to face prickly realities about the hypocrisy of entitlement in 21st century America.
The acting ensemble displays compassionate chemistry together, enabled by Alison Solomon’s choreography and Michael Rossmy’s fight direction.
FYI: There are two major changes at the Playhouse this season. The main floor bathroom is now unisex; mezzanine bathrooms remain singular sex. And there are no bios/essays in the program; it’s simply a folded one-sheet that lists the cast and crew and heralds the next production.
Running 90 minutes without an intermission, “Straight White Men” will be performed at the Westport Country Playhouse through June 5.