Slow race

Nice Guys Finish...

By Eric Alter
Directed by Robert Scott Sullivan
Apricot Sky Productions
Sande Shurin Theater
311 W. 43rd St., 6th fl. (973/325-5658)
Non-union production (closes Oct. 23)
Review by Seth Bisen-Hersh

The plot of Nice Guys Finish..., a play about dating and relationships, is fairly simple; two guys discuss what their perceptions of women are, while two women's comments on similar matters are juxtaposed. As the guys give a dating rule or view, the women almost always disagree. It becomes apparent as the show meanders that both pairs are awaiting a friend's arrival to recount a blind date.

When their friends arrive, it is clear that they were on the same date. They both give their versions of the evening and what they were thinking at each moment as their friends comment and jest (like "Summer Lovin" from Grease). The guys try to convince Stevie that nice guys finish last, and it is best to act like a jerk on the date, while Kimmy turns out in fact to be searching for just the opposite, a nice guy.

Most of Alter's script feels contrived: there are guys and girls in direct foil to each other, the discussions are more philosophical than realistic, and the ending feels forced and idealistic. The result is far from profound.

Sullivan's direction kept the show moving.. The set was successfully minimal; the costumes realistic.

Overall, Nice Guys Finish... finishes without a huge epiphany and without saying anything original or new.

Box Score:

Writing: 1
Directing: 1
Acting: 1
Set: 1
Costumes: 1
Lighting/Sound: 1

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Copyright 2004 Seth Bisen-Hersh