Nicky Silver's Fit To Be Tied begins with Arloc (Joey Landwehr) explaining his situation during the holiday season -- his situation being somewhat unhappy, unloved, and frustrated. An unopened, much-feared letter rests on a table. Alas, 'tis the holiday season when there is good cheer, so Arloc picks up boy-toy Boyd (Brennan Taylor) for a romantic interlude that includes just a touch of S and M. Alack, best-laid plans go askew as his strange mom, Nessa (Jill Drexler), thrusts herself upon him, having packed her unmentionables and left her second husband. Meanwhile Boyd is tied to a chair in the bedroom. Totally mad, in a delightfully crazy way, Nessa convinces Arloc to retrieve her worldly goods, left at her former home. She meets chair-tied Boyd.
Nicky Silver milks more laughs per line than any other contemporary playwright today. This script is hilariously written but could easily have failed were it not for the excellent direction of Delicia Turner Sonnenberg and a cast with a true understanding of their roles and of comedic timing.
Nessa's first husband, when he died, left all to Arloc. The mom remains bitter yet strangely loving to her son and, we soon discover, rather loving to cherub-faced Boyd. He is an angel in the chorus line of a Christmas production at Radio City and doesn't bother to change for his assignation with Arloc.
Jill Drexler, in her craziest role to date, brings us a strong-willed, dominating mother who always gets her way. She also gets the best lines, delivered with savage thrusts.
Landwehr's portrayal of conflicted Arloc, torn between the desire for Boyd, the demands of Nessa, the eventual imposition of Nessa's husband, Carl (George Soete), and the constant reminder of what his destiny is in the unopened envelope, is mostly understated. Arloc can show more love and understanding for others than is possible to show for himself. Landwehr's Arloc comes from a tremendous inner drive that gives his role a strong dimension.
Brennan Taylor's charming Boyd is, by nature of the role, quite one dimensional, albeit that he does have exuberant passion for Arloc's mother. Playwright/actor George Soete gives rejected husband Carl a wimpy quality, yet we can see the pain this man is suffering.
David Weiner's set is properly elegant, if a bit sparse, thus fitting Arloc nicely. The many monologues, requiring various solo spots, as well as the necessity to define several small playing areas, put huge demands on lighting designer Jen Setlow. His lighting plot works well. Robbie Henry's sound design sets the mood and accents all the right moments. Allison Pokladowski's costumes nicely define the characters.
Fit To Be Tied is just plain fun. Chances are your sides will ache as you leave the theater, and the cast, in their strange roles, will get to your heart as well as make you laugh.
