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A CurtainUp Review
Ride
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you’d think that we’d remember something, wouldn’t you, some moment of. . .intimacy.—
J, Ride
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Jeremy Waters and Melissa Chambers in Ride
(Photo: Jessie Unruh)
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The two people in question live in Melbourne, Australia, and wake up together after an epic night of debauchery. Neither remembers meeting the other, much less how they ended up naked in bed with each other. But some small spark of attraction must remain, since they stay and talk to other.
She had been to the wedding of her first love—in fact, was the maid of honor—and while she claims she’s happy for them, her bender that night says otherwise. He was out barhopping with friends, trying to get over his ex’s abrupt departure. Somehow, they are drawn to each other, and they seem desperate to fill in the missing pieces of the evening.
While the story line is implausible (1. when someone in real life wakes up naked in bed with a stranger, the first instinct is usually to bolt, not to stick around for tea, and 2. Any one who drank enough to block memory of several hours of the previous evening would be too hung over to talk), there’s something charming about the concerted effort these two make to get to know each other. Several times the conversation hangs, and it seems they have absolutely nothing in common. Still, they manage to soldier on to the bitter end when some new and vital information is revealed.
Jeremy Waters and Melissa Chambers are charming, if a bit brusque at times, in their morning-after awkwardness. They do a good job of portraying their hidden loneliness without seeming needy. While initially their characters don’t seem to have much in common, they do have an undeniable chemistry.
The set by James Hunting naturally centers around the bed, but he’s cleverly hidden an additional element that comes into play in the last moments. It's aided by Cory Pattak’s lovely lighting.
Surprisingly, there’s very little mention of sex, and very little touching. Whether or not this couple had sex seems irrelevant next to the larger issue— did they want to? And do they still want to? These two create their intimacy in the most old-fashioned way—by talking.
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Ride Written by Jane Bodie Directed by Nick Flint With Jeremy Waters and Melissa Chambers Set Design: James Hunting Lighting Design: Cory Pattak Running Time: Seventy minutes with no intermission 59E59, 59 East 59th Street; 212-279-4200 Tickets $25 Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 pm; Saturday at 2:30 pm and 8:30 pm; Sunday at 3:30 pm January 15—February 8 Reviewed by Jenny Sandman based on January 17th performance |
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Try onlineseats.com for great seats to
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Playbill 2007-08 Yearbook
Leonard Maltin's 2008 Movie Guide
Wicked
Jersey Boys
The Little Mermaid
Lion King
Shrek The Musical
South Pacific
In the Heights
Playbill 2007-08 Yearbook
Leonard Maltin's 2008 Movie Guide