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Author: Evan Smith

Reviewer: David Roberts for Theatre Reviews Limited

Evan Smith's powerful play "Servicemen" is a little like televisions's "Will and Grace" meets Tennessee Williams. From this wonderful head-on collision comes a fine piece of theatre about one of life's core themes; namely, the search for love. (Photo right: Olivia Birkelund, Anthony Veneziale, and Eric Martin Brown)

Like Will and Grace, Gray (Eric Martin Brown) and Cyn (Olivia Birkelund) spend a great deal of time looking for love in relationships other than the relationship they have with one another. Their love is deep but devoid of any sexual expression since Gray is gay and Cyn is (presumably) straight.

They spend their time competing for the same lonely servicemen who themselves are looking for love and intimacy. Sometimes Cyn wins, sometimes Gray wins. "Servicemen" focuses on the particular competition for the affections of a young, handsome soldier boy who, though he waffles between wanting to be with Cyn and wanting to be with Gray, is clearly wanting some intimate time with Gray.

As one might expect, the boy falls in love with Gray and this hint of intimacy repels Gray and puts him back on the prowl. No matter what happens in their lives of cruising and competing, Cyn and Gray ultimately discover (as do Will and Grace) that the strongest love they experience remains in their non-sexual love for one another. But neither of them can cope with that depth of love and they continue to need to service men who are servicemen.

Everything in this production serves the script perfectly. The set and lighting are dark and moody and cast the kind of shadows and define the kind of fuzzy edges one might expect in a world where love's boundaries are poorly circumscribed and all too cautiously explored. Love's labor here is often lost and the principles in the quest for love are most often left perilously alone or advancing on paths of non-conscious self-destruction.

Now and then Cyn and Gray interact with other characters (Glenn and Gloria played by Steve Polito and Heather Matarazzo; and a variety of characters played by William Westenberg) and these encounters help the audience see the main characters more clearly. But the relationship between Gray and Cyn remains the significant relationship the dynamics of which counterpoint with every relationship of every audience member on levels often too perilous to explore.

"Servicemen" is about that exploration. Its characters seduce the audience into a variety of love triangles wherein real love lies in wait to be found.

Reviewed on Sunday March 25, 2001

By Evan Smith. Directed by Sean Mathias. Set by Derek McLane; lighting by Jeff Croiter; sound by Fabian Obispo; costumes by Cathy Zuber and Alejo Vietti. Presented by The New Group at the Theatre at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues. Performance schedule: Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m., with matinee performances on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are $25.00-$35.00 and are available through Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200.

WITH: Olivia Birkelund, Eric Martin Brown, Steven Polito, Heather Matarazzo, Anthony Veneziale, and William Westenberg.

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