Susan Granger’s review of “As Time Goes By” (Off-Broadway)
Admittedly, the play’s title “As Time Goes By” intrigued me, since “Casablanca” is one of my favorite movies. What I didn’t realize was that – in this case – it refers to what’s advertised as a “rom-com’ about two gay Jewish men.
The premise, which bears a close resemblance to “Frankie and Johnny in the Claire De Lune,” involves graphic sex talk, yet what the two lonely protagonists seem to be yearning for is genuine emotional intimacy. And that’s not the same thing.
As playwright Danny Brown’s drama begins, jaded 33 year-old Adam (Ephraim Birney) and optimistic 24 year-old David (Joel Myers) have already culminated their casual coitus hookup that was arranged on Grindr.
When David departs, he realizes that it’s beginning to snow and a blizzard is expected. So he asks if he can stay awhile longer in Adam’s Upper West Side studio apartment. The inclement weather is obviously just an excuse to prolong their encounter, although David cites the fact that he has neither cash nor credit card to pay an Uber/Lyft driver to transport him. MetroCard? No.
What follows is an awkwardly extended conversation that’s obviously written by a gay man – filled with poignant grievances – and aimed at a gay audience. Those of us who don’t check those descriptive columns are simply eavesdropping voyeurs, trapped and unable to move for 90 minutes – with no intermission.
Under Noah Eisenberg’s somewhat stagnant direction, actors Ephraim Birney and Joel Myers clomp around Baron E. Pugh’s realistically cramped set and do the best they can with the dialogue they’re been given and, yes, “Casablanca” is mentioned since Adam owns a vinyl recording of “As Time Goes By.”
“As Time Goes By” can be seen at Out of the Box Theatrics at 134 Christopher Street through Sunday, March 30. For tickets, visit OOTB Theatrics or Ovationtix.com.