Strategic Love Play

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How can you make a new play about a couple on a blind date in a bar interesting for today’s jaded audience? In Strategic Love Play, British playwright Miriam Battye makes them play games as well as dislike each other as soon as they meet. Under Katie Posner’s direction Heléne Yorke (The Other Two, Masters of Sex) and Michael Zegen (The Penguin, The Marvelous Mrs. Meisel) are able to keep up the startling interactions between them for the 90 minutes of the play. The play covers several arcs from dislike to interest to boredom to acceptance to disbelief. Jen Schriever’s subtle lighting design delineates the shifting moods from white to purple to orange to yellow and back again.

Adam and Jenny have met online and have agreed to a first date in a bar where there is a two drink minimum. Unfortunately, it is awkward from the beginning. Both have gone on so many dates that they are both bored with the process and somewhat tense and uneasy. Jenny attempts to break the ice by being outrageous and cutting through the usual niceties, but Adam isn’t having it. They talk of their bike rides to the bar, what he does for a living, their personalities. We never learn much about her.

He tells her of his last broken relationship and she wonders why he revealed this to her so soon. He tries to be kind as she becomes more and more self-effacing but she calls him out for lying. She asks what he wants out of a relationship while she talks of her own fears. Eventually it becomes obvious they are of an age when they have dated so often that they would rather not be alone anymore, when their friends worry about them being single. He attempts to leave but changes his mind. Are they willing to settle for each other even if the attraction isn’t there?

Although the play has been somewhat revised for American audiences, some vestiges of British speak remain: “My mouth is so dry. It’s like a dry little Bean pot;” “your weird oatmeal job that you hate.” On the other hand, it is also a new wrinkle on relationships as Jenny takes the initiative and constantly tries to get a reaction out of Adam who is both reticent and in hiding. Posner’s direction manages to make the two characters change places and use the space of Arnulfo Maldonado’s attractive modern brick bar setting interestingly. The author has them each leave at least once to get more beers at which time each of them immediately  goes to check on their phone messages and text friends as to how it is going.

Yorke is quite remarkable as a woman tired of dating who is willing to go for broke and break all the rules. Often coming across as unconventional and kooky, she keeps Adam from leaving with her provocative statements which are not what he – or we – are expecting. As Adam, Zegen is excellent as the awkward guy who is still getting over two recent breakups, while at the same time trying to keep up with Jenny and her questions out of left field. He also attempts to not fall into her traps so she can berate him for being too boorish. Dede Ayite’s bland costumes are exactly right for two people attempting not to make too strong an impression on a first date. At times Tei Blow’s sound design makes us aware of other unseen people in the bar, and at others makes us feel Jenny and Adam are all alone.

Strategic Love Play may not be the perfect date night play as much of it may make you uncomfortable. However, it is also very provocative and might lead to interesting discussions. At the performance under review, there appeared to be many young couples in the audience. In any event, Miriam Battye’s Strategic Love Play is a compelling evening in the theater and the latest variation on the battle of the sexes.

Strategic Love Play (through December 7, 2024)

Audible & Chase This Productions

Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane, between MacDougal and Sixth Avenue

For tickets, visit http://www.StrategicLovePlay.com

Running time: one hour and 15 minutes without an intermission