Plot Points in Our Sexual Development
About the show
Lincoln Center presents this new drama, a contemporary queer love story, which explores gender, intimacy, and the dangers of revealing yourself to the person you love. More…
Theo and Cecily want to be honest about their sexual histories, but what happens when telling the truth jeopardizes everything?
“A must see. With expert direction...the one-hour piece is succinct, lyrical, and deeply affecting...Amazing performances...Jackson and Rendón are absolutely present...Through Bordelon’s wonderful direction, we feel invited into the relationship...The grace and care with which these characters move through each moment of the play and navigate the difficulties of this conversation is a lesson in understanding, care, and acceptance, regardless of our identity.” Full Review
“Jackson and Redón are simply ravishing, dynamic, and magnetic as they play this pair whose profound connection you never once question...I left the theatre shook by the truth of Cecily and Theo’s journey—inspired by the dynamics of Ms. Hall’s own relationship—and grateful for the opportunity to see a queer love story so honestly portrayed on stage with abounding focus, unsparing detail, and honorable integrity under the helm of director Margot Bordelon." Full Review
“’Plot Points’ turns to candid storytelling, to the vulnerable sharing of personal narrative, as perhaps our most powerful tool in finding our way toward each other...The tone is light, generous, seemingly relaxed, and the characters’ reminiscences relatable...In a way it’s a mercy that ‘Plot Points’ only lasts an hour, because its evocation of this kind of unraveling-sweater, state-of-the-union conversation is excruciatingly on point.” Full Review
"In a swift and affecting 60 minutes, Hall crafts a powerful demonstration of how hard we often must fight to queer our own identities in the context of oppressive social norms...Jackson and Rendón deliver frank, heartfelt performances under Margot Bordelon’s crisp direction...If the play’s dramatic conflict ultimately seems slight, the depths plunged by Hall’s play present a bone-deep counterargument to the absurdity of legislating gender as binary or biological. " Full Review
"An intriguingly constructed, movingly written look at a very specific relationship...It’s deeply, almost shockingly frank, and it’s also deeply revelatory...The script is carefully balanced and slowly unpacks its secrets. Her structure is precise, and so is her wording. Even the jokes build carefully and land precisely. Margot Bordelon’s direction sharpens this effect...This is a smart, well-made play that is very much of its time, a look at the brave new world of gender nonconformity." Full Review
“Hall's 'Plot Points In Our Sexual Development' helps expand our idea of cultural norms to stories involving types of people who don't regularly have a chance to see dramas involving characters living lives like their own...Hall's dialogue, tenderly acted...can be devastating...Although this reviewer could have done with a little less storytelling and a lot more direct interaction between the characters, ‘Plot Points' is very deserving of this crisp and well-acted premiere production.” Full Review
"This one-hour two-hander is at its best when it is divulging the series of events that helped Catholic goody-goody Cecily realize that she is a femme lesbian, and led Theo down the well-traveled path from butch lesbian to transgender. Hall has written these stories with ample wit and vivid detail...Both actors are captivating storytellers...For an hourlong chat about sex though, it is thoroughly unsexy, which makes this play a triumph of normalizing literature, but fairly dull drama." Full Review
"It seems for most of its length to keep present-tense emotion at bay, as if in some kind of exercise...They tell stories that describe, as the flat-footed title suggests, the high and mostly low moments of their sex lives to date...These stories feel overworked to me, amusing enough but too neat for their own good...Even when it stares hardest at its navel, it’s never less than intriguing...Lovely performances...make time slow down and give the story body." Full Review
"'Plot Points' starts out strong; both performers easily disarm the audience...The play loses steam once they stop swapping stories and get to the heart of the matter, and its supposed resolution is more like a resigned shrug. Still, the insights it provides into the ever-evolving universe of queer identity will likely send you down your own Memory Lane, no matter where you fall on the x and y axes of the sexuality graph." Full Review
“Hall’s new play about gender fluidity is so short...But it was so talky and tedious that it seemed much longer...For the first twenty minutes, we get alternating monologues of episodes from their respective psychosexual histories...All is not as it first seems. The concept is interesting, but the play seemed a work in progress, more confusing than elucidating, more theoretical than dramatic.” Full Review
See it if you want a short, thought-provoking piece about a queer relationship that deals with sex, intimacy and communication. Beautifully executed.
Don't see it if you are prudish or not an LGBTQ ally. I can't really think of any other reason not to see it since it is incredibly important and moving.
See it if You like dialogue based stories that go into the psychology of characters
Don't see it if You want lots of on stage action, big sets, or special effects
See it if You love exploring relationships on a deep level.
Don't see it if You prefer large casts and dazzling sets.
See it if you want to examine relationships in an honest, intelligent and important way.
Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with open discussions of sex, sexuality and gender.
See it if You want an exploration of a relationship with characters that want to be heard but don't have the language to be understood.
Don't see it if You're uncomfortable with frank discussions of sexuality & gender. You prefer plays with bigger production values.
See it if you have wondered about the unique dynamics that might lead a lesbian to be attracted to a transmale. A topic rarely addressed, & done well
Don't see it if you are uncomfortable with frank discussions of sexuality, early sexual experiences, particularly in an LGTBQ context.
Also The writing is razor sharp, and these two actors are superb at making ... Read more Read less
See it if You like a slow burn story that is a heartfelt and beautiful voyeuristic look into a couple's navigation of their life together.
Don't see it if You don't like queer characters, minimalistic sets, or shows that revolve around a conversation told in real time
See it if Intense, frank, and overwhelmingly personal relationship details. Queer sex. Working through intimacy with new partners.
Don't see it if You don't want to encounter the above topics. You're looking for a resolved, Aristotelian narrative arc. 65 minutes is too short for you (?)
Also The play started out phenomenally, and I was captivated. The reminisce... Read more Read less
See it if You want a deceptively light, tight love story with a lot of laughs and heart.
Don't see it if You think a play needs to be a certain length. It's tight, 50-minute runtime might be too short for some
See it if You're interested in the development of genderqueer relationships
Don't see it if you aren't interested in LGBTG+ relationships
See it if You are empathetic to the plight of growing up different in a world that too often does not accept differences. Very informative.
Don't see it if You just want a light and meaningless evening.
See it if You want to be challenged with some controversial(?) ideas and thoughts and probably have your notions turned more than once.
Don't see it if You’re homophobic or trans-phobic, though that’s a good reason you SHOULD see it, this might open your eyes a bit.
See it if you yearn to see and hear representative narratives of people who live outside the margins of cisgender heterosexual society.
Don't see it if you're unwilling or unable to listen to and validate queer lives, queer bodies, and queer feelings.
See it if You enjoy new, experimental theater. Cast of two reveal themselves in intimate ways.
Don't see it if Let’s face it, this is an experience about growing up gay.
See it if you'd value seeing a conversation on-stage unlike anything you've probably heard on-stage before; are seeking unique, nuanced queer stories
Don't see it if you need a play to have slightly more dramatic structure to merit being staged than this play does / are squeamish about frank sexual convos
Also as a queer woman who has dated trans men, I can confirm that this show... Read more Read less
See it if You seek an understanding of the challenges faced by gay and transgender individuals as they navigate a heterosexual world and their love
Don't see it if You are offended by talk about gay and transsexual relationships and sexuality
See it if want to try to understand trans people funny and moving at times
Don't see it if if issues of secuality are not your thing thought ending was some what confusing
See it if You enjoy relationship-based stories, are interested in gender politics, and are fascinated by discussions about sex.
Don't see it if You prefer flashy productions, or are uncomfortable hearing emotionally and sexually explicit monologue/dialogue.
See it if you like to be challenged with Frank presentations of real life, first in developing snippets, then in a mature relationship. Great lighting
Don't see it if you do not like discussions of sexual development or gender issues.
See it if Hall's sexual confessional is riveting in its raw emotional power & ambitious in confronting stereotypical gender definitions Great acting
Don't see it if Despite the high quality of writing & performance often feels static & forced Early on feels like a lesbian spreadsheet; later gets mawkish
See it if you are interested in gender conformity and why a lesbian is attracted to a transmale. Great performances from the two actors.
Don't see it if you are not interested or uncomfortable with the idea of gender conformity. Also, if you are uncomfortable with sex talk.
See it if you like queer love stories, personal narratives, own voices pieces, explorations of masculinity and femininity
Don't see it if you're uncomfortable with sexual content, queer content, or are looking for a traditional plot rather than personal narratives
See it if You are interested in a "non-traditional" love story that is sad, sweet, and difficult.
Don't see it if If you are not willing to see a difficult love story between non-hetero couple.
Also Regardless of your sexual and gender identity, we can all relate to th... Read more Read less
See it if you want to see an unique play that goes from monologues (alternate story-telling & sharing) to actual dialogue (couple's interaction).
Don't see it if anything GLBTQ irks you. Well-done piece explores their personal sexual experiences, then their relationship, thru very raw descriptions.
Cast & Creatives (9)
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