Hot Mess
About the show
This new romantic comedy about a seemingly heterosexual boyfriend's not-so-heterosexual past proves that sometimes in order to find yourself, you have to get lost. More…
Angst-ridden Max and mildly unstable Elanor are soulmates. They have revealed every crazy and embarrassing quirk to each other which has only brought them closer. However, there is one issue that Max is holding onto. Elanor has discussed her ex-boyfriends with Max. Max hasn’t quite mentioned his.
"Rothenberg and Crabtree have captured a sticky moment that might play out in any new love story with sheer honesty and absolute delight. Rather than going for cheap laughs, Rothenberg and Crabtree allow realistic conversations in a realistic scenario to stew in their own natural comic juices...With its vaudeville-esque moments played out in perfect timing by all three actors, there’s never a dull moment and the through line is clear." Full Review
"If you’re a fan of comedy, especially blue, with romance thrown in for a theme, then you’ll have some good laughs...Molnar has most of the punch lines and is a standout in this three person show...Directed by Jonathan Silverstein the play runs at a fast pace." Full Review
"Wonderfully performed, smartly mounted, and minor, though enjoyable romantic comedy, 'Hot Mess'...The often playfully crude dialogue is snappy and the appealing characters are well drawn. There are many classic set-up and punch line bits a number of which land with amusing results. Lasting an hour, it’s a mildly satisfying short play that makes for simple entertainment...Crumm and DeVito have a marvelous chemistry together and terrific mutual comic timing." Full Review
“The situation at first seems rather shallow, but as the play progresses it becomes increasingly entertaining, largely because of the appealing acting...Although the play is on the thin side, the authors have provided an amusing set-up in the ultimate revelations, and Crumm and DeVito, abetted by the outrageousness of Molnar, do the rest under the snappy direction of Silverstein.” Full Review
“Director Jonathan Silverstein makes sure that the one-liners and descriptions that have been honed by its authors deliver their payload smoothly. ‘Hot Mess’ also benefits from the warmth and attractiveness of its leads…Ultimately, even with mostly adept comedy writing and the authors’ daring in tackling so personal and touchy a subject, the result, feels lumpy and overly earnest. ‘Hot Mess’ isn’t a hot mess, but it feels like it needs more time in the oven.” Full Review
"Neither a hot mess nor a cold mess. It’s a lukewarm rom-com...The pluses here include the deft Crumm and DeVito...If 'Hot Mess' is about anything deeper than what’s on its mildly undulating surface, it’s concerned with recognizing that relationships today aren’t always what they used to be. Should anyone want to get anywhere, a new flexibility is required. So take that contemporary message for what it’s worth." Full Review
"An innocuous play performed by an appealing cast that has the slightest of plots...Streaked with dialogue and situations and jokes that are supposed to be funny, but aren’t. This is a problem, since the three main characters are all supposed to be professional jokesters...To be fair, I did laugh twice...There really isn’t much substance...The actors are charming enough, and the play’s running time brief enough, that 'Hot Mess' might well work as a date night for some undemanding couples." Full Review
“For a play about comics, the humor-for all its reliance on raunch and a running joke about whether Max ever took it up the you-know-where-doesn't rise above that on any sitcom…If you think a guy calling his girlfriend ‘Poopy Pants’ is a gut buster, this show's for you. Others, I imagine, are offering sympathy laughs, the kind you force to make the actors feel better…Crumm…and DeVito…acquit themselves well enough, considering their uninspiring material.” Full Review
“A foolish, mild little concoction—really, a stand-up routine disguised as a play...The lead characters in ‘Hot Mess’ are named Max and Elanor—both are comics—and they are little more than stand-ins for the authors, Dan Rothenberg and Colleen Crabtree, whose story this is...There is never the slightest doubt that these two will get together...Silverstein's direction is, as always, professional...‘Hot Mess’ is a pretty cold cup of coffee.” Full Review
See it if you are in the dating world in 2017. If you like light comedy and great acting. Truly funny show.
Don't see it if you take issue with LBGT community.
See it if Like Romantic Comedy
Don't see it if Do not enjoy romantic comedy
See it if You enjoy good comedy and Sweet acting. Max Crumm is amazing and Lucy Devito has definitely inherited the family gift of acting.
Don't see it if If you don’t like sweet romantic comedy with a happy ever after!
See it if Enjoy a good show.
Don't see it if N/a
See it if Cute fun show
Don't see it if Not my favorite show in the world but wasn't bad
See it if you like a quick show that is entertaining. Acting was well done, and had some funny moments.
Don't see it if you don't like the subject matter of a bi-sexual dating a straight women.
See it if While the subject matter is slightly difficult -- a man telling his girlfriend that he is bi-sexual -- the one liners keep coming. If you
Don't see it if miss one, there will be a thousand others. It seemed like a stand-up comics telling the audience about their lives by dramatizing.
Also It was less than an hour and could have probably been improved and ext... Read more Read less
See it if you enjoy great acting in a tight, funny show with a message using an innovative set in a small theater.
Don't see it if you are not open to varied lifestyles, human relationship problems, frank language or new writing with a message.
See it if You want to laugh and enjoy some good acting by some of the characters
Don't see it if You don't want to hear about bi-sexuals and their life choices.
See it if you like watching couples find there way and if you like stand up comedy.
Don't see it if you have no interest in stand up comedy.
See it if You enjoy a short fun play with quirky characters
Don't see it if If you wanna see A full set and more complex story
See it if It was it was good more than
Don't see it if True life story in modern times
See it if You like a funny, sweet, short, one act.
Don't see it if You don't like plays that bring up LGBTQ issues.
See it if You like Bi-sexual romantic comedy’s. Like the actors. Like being close to the action. Funny character. Short in length and plot.
Don't see it if Want to laugh. Expect Ibson. A small theater. A short in length show.
See it if You like romantic comedies with a twist
Don't see it if romantic comedies do not appeal to you or you don't find them entertaining.
See it if You like funny, intimate plays; you want a short diversion
Don't see it if You're homophobic (or bi-phobic); you want a big production
See it if you enjoy light comedies that do not change your views but are there just for entertainment sake.
Don't see it if If you are expecting heavy drama, deep issues, or any singing.
Also I found all of the actors in this show to be very endearing. I cared a... Read more Read less
See it if You can get jokes
Don't see it if You aren't into the real world
See it if you want a light romantic comedy
Don't see it if you are offended by bi-phobia, want something that digs a little deeper.
See it if Enjoy a few laughs.
Don't see it if n/a
See it if you are a stand-up fan and are just looking for a very light very slight short comedy.
Don't see it if If you want something that is plot-driven and will leave you with a message.
See it if You want to see a quick show (1 hr), like small theatre, are ok with bisexuality theme, support off Bway, want to see a funny show.
Don't see it if Expect elaborate setting, are uncomfortable with bisexuality, don't like stand up.
See it if you would like a cute, one-hour comedy about a young man's struggle with coming out to his girlfriend as bisexual.
Don't see it if you are not looking for a relatively short romantic comedy in a small, more intimate venue.
See it if You want a breezy, 70 minute comedy with plenty of heart and just enough pathos to not feel like an extended sketch
Don't see it if You don't like bad language and can't enjoy a somewhat slight premise
See it if you want to spend an hour at the theater and laugh a bit.
Don't see it if you plan on talking or texting during the show. It's only an hour of your life!
Cast & Creatives (11)
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