It's so simple. Veronica (Jennie Olson) and Richard (Marc Biagi), a couple for the last few years, invite three of their favorite marrieds or almost-marrieds over for cocktails. It's a tradition. Maria (Melanie Sutherlin) and Mark (Tyler Joshua Herdklotz), a nice engaged couple with just a few deep-seated problems, are invited. There's Luke (Thomas Hall), living with the charming Kate (Teresa Beckwith). And, finally, John (Stephen Rowe) and Ann (Savvy Scopeletti) join the group, with their own serious problems.
These are the loveable characters in Kevin Six's hilarious new play, Love Negotiated, premiering at the Swedenborg Hall under the capable direction of San Diego icon D. J. Sullivan. Six has forewarned you of things to come by virtue of his title; negotiate does mean bargaining with another.
The 'bargaining' begins almost immediately. Are these established relationships fixed or are they variable? Does love need redefinition every so often? Just what is love? The playwright explores a variety of love options in this 90-minute laugh riot.
Six populates his story with a few lawyers: a divorce attorney, a corporate type, a contract specialist, and one that doesn't practice. Yes, you already know there is trouble in River City. The others include a song-writing cop, a singing investigator who works for Richard, a fairly well know actor, and, last, a very, very angry cellist.
Some of the characters have a separate history together, such as being previously married to the host and hostess. Other characters have, shall we say, roving eyes. Some may just be interested in gender bending. There appear to be no rules. However, by virtue of the fact of no rules, rules seem to develop. Now don't get confused, this is all about love.
The joy is the script. Six likes to scare people with those commitment words like the D, C, and H words (dog, children, and honesty). One of his characters refers to sex as taking off your clothes and bumping into each other. He also gets into quasi and real legal terms: pre-nuptials, post-nuptials, and, my favorite, preemptive divorce.
Love Negotiated is a delightful play on words about the infinite permutations of love. Veronica and Richard are the stabilizing factor throughout the play...if by stabilizing one means fighting, bickering, screaming, and, eventually, making up. The cast moves from ensemble to duo and solo performances easily. Excellent portrayals by all, with their speeches just right. The pauses are perfectly timed, and the overlapping dialogue plays well. Director Sullivan moves her ever changing couples about the set, defining who is with whom as they ready for their moments of discovery. These moments are well defined by lighting director Marie Miller, who solo-spots each couple.
In sum, Love Negotiated should be required viewing for anybody contemplating cohabitation and/or marriage. It's also an excellent 90 minutes for marrieds. They can have moments of revelation as well as moments to laugh at their own history.
