‘Stage Kiss’ – Written by Sarah Ruhl. Directed by Rani O’Brien. Artistic Direction by Wendy Lippe. Set Design by Rani O’Brien. Costume Design by Sarah Lima. Lighting Design by Larry Segel. Presented by the Psych Drama Company at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116 through February 23, 2025.
By Judy Katzman
The concept of immersion for Stage Kiss – the Psych Drama Company’s production that employs a play-within-a-play – is cleverly achieved as soon as your ticket is ripped and you walk downstairs to the waiting area. Outside the closed doors of the theater sits a table with information about a casting call for a production of ‘The Last Kiss,’ the title of the play within the Stage Kiss play. While waiting for the theatre doors to open, patrons can read a summary of ‘The Last Kiss’ as well as a description of each character. Meanwhile, Stage Kiss actor Kevin (David Kleinman) enthusiastically walks through the waiting crowd collecting names of volunteers who would like to “read” for a part. When everyone is seated in the theatre, the auditions for ‘The Last Kiss’ begin, starting with the audience member volunteers and then transitioning to the actual cast of Stage Kiss.
From the moment the character known as She (Wendy Lippe) bursts onto the stage, late for her audition, the audience is drawn to her. She is frazzled and vulnerable and is instantly likable. Lippe is all-in for this role, throwing herself into her performance, sometimes literally, which makes for some of her best scenes. The audition, a kiss scene with Kevin, elicits plenty of laughs as She constantly stops and asks for direction and clarification from the Director (Zachary Ryan Murphy). Unbeknownst to She, the lead male role of He in ‘The Last Kiss’ is her former lover (Kenneth Kelleher), putting them both in an extremely uncomfortable position. Uber-serious but immature, Kelleher scores big laughs without cracking a smile. Some of his most humorous moments center on his use of a pair of crutches during his performance in the play, and the emotional growth of his character is a treat to witness.
Much of the action focuses on the rehearsal process for the 1930s melodrama that has reunited the former lovers. Lippe and Kelleher nail the sexual tension as they struggle with past feelings for one another and the sparks they try to suppress. As they get deeper into the rehearsal process, their character’s feelings become blurred with their own. It is both interesting and amusing – and at times hilarious – as Lippe and Kelleher handle their roles capably.
Complementing Lippe and Kelleher is a very talented cast. Kleinman, juggling several roles in ‘The Last Kiss,’ has considerable stage presence and takes on each character with great enthusiasm, especially the doctor and pimp roles. As Kevin, Kleinman’s over-the-top eagerness to rehearse a kiss scene with She as the understudy for He was a riot. Murphy’s overwhelmed Director of ‘The Last Kiss’ was fun to watch, as he storms around the stage and offers sage advice like “just go with your first instinct!” At times, he sits with the audience while watching rehearsals and engages with them, another nice immersive touch. Eric Cheung skillfully plays the reserved and doting husband, and Melissa Myers and Julia Trueblood also deliver in smaller roles. Myers’ portrayal as She’s teenage daughter is delightfully sassy and flippant, and Trueblood’s portrayal as He’s wholesome girlfriend (who feels the need to retreat to the bathroom during stressful situations) is adorable.
While ‘Stage Kiss’ takes us on a wild ride that blurs fiction and truth, humor and pain, the ending is raw, allowing us to see just how far certain characters have evolved after the curtain closes on ‘The Last Kiss.’ Lippe and Kelleher offer humorous yet honest performances, affording an intimate look at their personal journeys. The Psych Drama Company’s mission is to “examine theatrical works through a psychological lens” and deliver “powerful, thought-provoking, immersive performances.” Mission accomplished. For more information and tickets, go to www.thepsychdramacompany.com
