(Cover Photo: Wendy Lippe as "She" with Eric Cheung as "Husband" in a scene from the Psych Drama Company production of Sarah Ruhl's "STAGE KISS" in Boston, MA. through February 23, 2025. Photo credit: Heroun & Co)  


By Kevin T. Baldwin

METRMag Reviewer

# 774-242-6724 

"So, I think in the last ten years I’ve had two auditions, one for a maid on Broadway and one for an antidepressant commercial. I got the antidepressant commercial."

                                    - ("She") / Sarah Ruhl

Psych Drama Company

Presents Sarah Ruhl's

"STAGE KISS"

Written by Sarah Ruhl

Directed by Rani O'Brien

Produced by Christopher Crossen-Sills

Cast Includes: Wendy Lippe as "She," Kenneth Kelliher as "He," Melissa Myers as "Angela/Millie/Maid," Julia Trueblood as "Millicent/Laurie," Eric Cheung as "Husband," David Kleinman as "Kevin," Zachary Ryan Murphy as "The Director."

Additional Creative Team: 

Set Designer - Rani O'Brien; Stage Manager - Lindsey Snyder; Lighting Designer - Larry Segel; Costume Designer - Sarah Lima; Director of Marketing - Charlie Berger; Fight Choreographer - Edward Eaton; Social Media Coordinator - Kevin Broccoli; Production Assistant - Robert Hickey; Technical Director - Christopher Crossen-Sills; Intimacy Consultant - Caitlin Hart; Poster Photography - Joseph Heroun of Heroun & Company, Literary Consultant - Will Stofega; Set Builder - Christopher Comaeu.

Presented by the Psych Drama company as hosted by the BCA Boston Center for the Arts.

Performances: 

February 13, 2025 through February 23, 2025

(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)

Performances to be held at BCA Plaza Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116

TICKETS 

https://www.bostontheatrescene.com/shows-and-events/stage-kiss/

BUY TICKETS

COVID 19 PROTOCOLS

Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information. 

(Please note: the following review is for a production already passed)

THE PSYCH DRAMA COMPANY has staged a very ambitious production of "STAGE KISS" and it comes with many laughs and, for some theatre veterans, an all-too-familiar scenario. 

Two middle-aged actors, only known as She (Wendy Lippe) and He (Kenneth Kelleher) with a sexual history are cast as romantic leads in a 1930s melodrama being resurrected and staged by stressed out director Adrian Schwalbach (Zachary Ryan Murphy). 

She auditions for Adrian opposite his assistant and fellow performer, Kevin (David Kleinman). 

Together and separately in their respective scenes, Murphy and Kleinman offer up some of the funniest moments in the entire show. 

She is cast in the role of dying aristocrat Ada Wilcox, opposite He who is cast in the role of Ada’s former lover, Johnny Lowell. 

(Photo: Wendy Lippe as "She" with Kenneth Kelleher as "He" and Zachary Ryan Murphy as "The Director" in a scene from the Psych Drama Company production of Sarah Ruhl's "STAGE KISS" in Boston, MA. through February 23, 2025. Photo credit: Heroun & Co)  

Both Lippe and Kelleher are exceptional in conveying the multitude of conflicting emotions with which their characters contend while executing their roles as lovers past, present, on-stage...and then, off-stage.

As we follow this sexually-charged journey from the audition process to rehearsals to the actual performance, we soon learn that the on-and-off-stage chemistry between She and He is still as dominating - and toxic - as ever. 

Even though He is in a budding relationship with a teacher (Julia Trueblood) and She is long-married to loving Husband (Eric Cheung), the actors soon lose touch with reality and re-ignite their passionate affair, and the line between offstage and onstage romance begins to blur. 

(Photo: Kenneth Kelleher as "He" with Wendy Lippe as "She" in a scene from the Psych Drama Company production of Sarah Ruhl's "STAGE KISS" in Boston, MA. through February 23, 2025. Photo credit: Heroun & Co)  

By the second act of "STAGE KISS" all Hell breaks loose. 

The play that everyone had high hopes for turns out to be a major flop and, later, the affair between She and He is quickly revealed. 

She is confronted at He’s apartment (yes, I know that sounds weird when you say it out loud) by her Husband and Daughter (Melissa Myers) along with He’s current love interest (yep - not sounding any better). 

However, Adrian returns and offers the actors a second opportunity to work together in an even more outlandish play involving an Irishman and a Brooklyn hooker that Adrian is directing. 

The only question for She and He is can they make this relationship work this second time around – or will they begin to recall why it didn’t work the first time around?

(Photo: David Kleinman as "Kevin" in a scene from the Psych Drama Company production of Sarah Ruhl's "STAGE KISS" in Boston, MA. through February 23, 2025. Photo credit: Heroun & Co)  

"STAGE KISS," written by Sarah Ruhl, made its debut Chicago in 2011 Chicago before ultimately transitioning to Off-Broadway in 2014. 

The two-act production, as directed by Rani O'Brien, is done in-the-round in a blackbox setting. 

Using some inventive minimalist staging, the approach taken by O'Brien allows much of the plot to be driven directly by the cast, which works quite well given the sheer level of fine talent involved in the show. 

The cast faithfully and with precision executes the text…it is only a pity that, overall, the play itself doesn’t rise to the same level of excellence. 

The main issue is that the play's two main characters come across as way overwritten. 

Either the supporting character stories could have been expanded upon, or the show might just have easily been better served as a shorter one-act (rather than being severely drawn out over two acts). 

(Photo: Wendy Lippe as "She" with Eric Cheung as "Husband" in a scene from the Psych Drama Company production of Sarah Ruhl's "STAGE KISS" in Boston, MA. through February 23, 2025. Photo credit: Heroun & Co)  

In addition, there is a rather unnecessary approach taken by Ruhl in putting the cast-within-a-cast in a “fishbowl” environment where we, the audience, are all present (“in the room where it happens” so to speak) for the sexually-charged exploits of She and He… 

…but then again, it doesn’t feel we are supposed to be there…but then, suddenly, we are back in the room again…but then, a second later, once more it feels like we’re not supposed to be there…but then we are, etc. 

The fourth wall gets broken repeatedly but then we are made to feel like we should actually be allowing the couple some privacy.

There are numerous head-scratching moments like the above throughout the production and, if that was the intent, it succeeds.

However, the approach taken simultaneously does not heighten any of the sexual tension, nor does it help us bond with any of the other characters who, as mentioned, are underwritten. 

No matter the drawbacks of the script itself, the actors and creative team involved elevate the material as best as they can. 

By the time we reach the conclusion of "STAGE KISS" we are surprised by a marvelously structured and equally startling revelation that helps to compensate for the play’s other shortcomings.

Approximately two hours, 40 minutes with one intermission.

Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)

@MetrmagReviews

@Theatre_Critics

ABOUT THE PLAY

"STAGE KISS" follows two former lovers who, decades after their relationship ended, find themselves reunited when cast in a 1930’s melodrama. 

This unexpected encounter becomes a journey of rediscovery and introspection, offering both humor and profound insights into the complexities of love and human connection. 

A viscerally intimate portrayal of love and betrayal in THE PSYCH DRAMA COMPANY's critically acclaimed immersive performance style. 

And post-show discussions with the full cast after every performance! 

“Love is the extremely difficult realization that something other than oneself is real.” – Iris Murdoch 

In an age of confusion and uncertainty about what’s real, the ever-pressing challenge of authenticity comes to the forefront in "STAGE KISS" exploration of fate verses free will in love, passion and romance.

ABOUT THE PSYCH DRAMA COMPANY

THE PSYCH DRAMA COMPANY's mission is to examine theatrical works through a psychological lens. Producing emotionally powerful, immersive, thought-provoking theater. With our world being as fast-paced and technology-driven as it is, PSYCH DRAMA COMPANY seeks to hold space for the public to meaningfully reflect on their lives and relationships in new ways. PSYCH DRAMA COMPANY's unique integration of theater and psychology facilitates the creation of that space. 

Mailing Address:

THE PSYCH DRAMA COMPANY

1514 Beacon Street, # 38

Brookline, MA. 02446

Telephone # 617-275-9167

psychdramacompany@gmail.com