Part of FringeNYC: One Bench. Two Strangers. STILL NOT is an honest, comedic, skewed-romantic exploration into the traps of waiting for love...and the fear that it may never come.
... Read moreCategories: Comedy, Drama, Local. Written by Harrison Bryan. Directed by Rory Lance.
FROM THE ARTIST:
* STILL NOT began as a ten-minute scene written for a class at Boston University. Over six years, as playwright Harrison Bryan’s perspective on life and relationships changed, this skewed-romantic comedy evolved into a 75-minute story of six days, exploring themes of fate, desire, dependency, and progression. STILL NOT stars the playwright, Harrison Bryan, and Shelby Hightower. The two actors met in Boston, where they dated for three years before ultimately separating. They have remained friends, and with this production they face the rewarding, but often difficult, challenge of being artistic collaborators yet again.
“When I first started working on STILL NOT, Shelby, and I were just friends. Eventually we started dating, and as our relationship evolved, so did my relationship to the play and to the characters,” said Bryan. “We are not these characters, and the play is not about us specifically, but we certainly feel the weight of our history on the play - and its impact on our performances."
* “A declaration by two young performers that they are going to throw their hearts and souls into this profession and will carve out a permanent place for themselves in this industry. You can feel their optimism and youthful ambition pouring off the stage.” - NY Theatre Guide
* "STILL NOT is hopeful yet heartbreaking- practical yet idealistic. Harrison Bryan has a something special in his hands.” - Theatre In The Now
* Funny! But Heart-Breaking!...The play is dedicated to anyone who's ever been hurt - or healed - by love. May we all find inner peace - and share it with the world.
"Barely any external reference to the world outside their cocoons is broached. The play’s dramatic arc, despite minor flare-ups into potential drama, is as flat as a day-old Coke...Neither Bryan nor Hightower is sufficiently believable or charming in these uninteresting roles. Trying hard to be natural they instead fall into mannered cuteness, the kind where every transition seems to have been given a subtext that the actors feel compelled to express physically." Full Review
"The chitchat becomes inane and repetitious, only serving as a vehicle for comedic overtones and situations. It is devoid of character development and dramatic arc, leaving one scene indiscernible from another. The two actors come as close to creating interesting characters as the script allows but lack the chemistry to provide and support emotional content...'Still Not' still does not reach its full potential and leaves the audience still waiting for something more." Full Review
"The play is fresh and offers a unique perspective that is not canned or cliche. It is quirky, very funny and the writing is clever and smart and at moments surprisingly insightful. Both actors were perfectly playing off each other and the chemistry is obvious...Director Rory Lance does a fine job directing these two players and getting the most out of this limited setting. Every motion seems true to the characters and blocking is straightforward but revealing." Full Review
"The tension in 'Still Not' is present thanks to the great naturalistic dialogue constructed by playwright Harrison Bryan…The chemistry between the two is palpable...Direction from Rory Lance is delightfully specific in constructing these two characters' physical lives, differentiating their distinct ways of being while simultaneously providing them with numerous ways to connect." Full Review
for a previous production "Nothing felt forced…There was an easy flow to the dialogue with gradual satisfying progressions…Rory Lance, the director, has done a beautiful job shaping each moment with care and precision…The two actors worked perfectly together. There was great chemistry, believable discourse, shared moments of deep empathy and commitment to the text, to telling the story. This is not a monumental life-altering play…This slice of life, haiku play, is a misty rainbow after the rain." Full Review
See it if You want a human, charming, lovely two hander about modern relationships.
Don't see it if You are expecting ground breaking new theater. This is simple and rewarding but its not innovative.
See it if you are sensitive to the nuances of relationships. The dialogue felt totally natural and the show is flawlessly cast. Poignant with humor.
Don't see it if you are looking for lots of action. This budding relationship (or lack thereof) unfolds gradually as a guy and girl sit on a bench and chat.
See it if you like rom-coms
Don't see it if you want something a little bit more serious
See it if you are young and like to examine relationships. It started a little slow for me, but got better in the second half.
Don't see it if you want a very dynamic, profound show.
See it if You've been in a relationship and want to laugh
Don't see it if you need a lot of music in your plays
See it if you have ever been in that awkward situation where you see someone that you really want to meet and get to know.
Don't see it if you don't believe in love and relationships.
See it if You ever were lonely and shy and horribly awkward and self-conscious and single in your 20s
Don't see it if You were always popular in your 20s and never lonely and always could get a girlfriend or boyfriend whenever you wanted and are narcissistic
See it if You want a perceptive young approach to an old school play. The two characters rarely ever move but keep the audience engaged. Very funny.
Don't see it if You want a lot of action of just fluff. The staging is subtle but there's not a lot of movement. A little simple, but a lot of heart.
See it if If you like shows that make you question reality.
Don't see it if You are looking for slapstick comedy.
See it if You have ever been in love. Or if you haven't, but plan to be.
Don't see it if You are looking for action, a fast pace, or large casts.
See it if You appreciate nuanced "day in the life" type of stories
Don't see it if Need lots of action to stay interested
See it if You've ever been impacted by love... Or if you haven't!!! If you enjoy clever simplicity and having your heartstrings tugged
Don't see it if You hate shows about love. If you don't like having emotions well up.
See it if like a cleverly written script which melds humor and in-your-face truths to tell a story. Well staged and honest performances. Bravo.
Don't see it if you need a lot of action and fluff.
See it if like humor mixed with reality and remember heartbreak and hope
Don't see it if If you need gimmicks, glitz and m&ms (no food allowed in theater)
See it if remember flirting and being awkward.
Don't see it if you've never been rejected and have no heart.
See it if Fun twist on your typical romantic comedy. Lots of awkward humorous moments between two well-written and passionate characters.
Don't see it if You want a musical, an epic, a long night of theatre.
See it if You like plays with good banter and lots of heart. The play provides a certain empowerment over ones' feelings - and has lots of good laughs
Don't see it if If you want to see a play that tackles more socially relevant topics - this play is ambiguous and all about relationships. Not political.
See it if you want to see two actors who fit their roles perfectly. It's a thought-provoking play about the struggles of relationships and love.
Don't see it if you would rather spend 75 minutes doing something outside a small - pretty warm - theater. It's also a little sad, so fair warning.
See it if you're a hopeless romantic. the play is beautifully done and as someone who has loved and lost - I've been on the "bench" before. Relatable.
Don't see it if You're over love stories. If you don't like character driven pieces. Or if you want more than two characters. Also - the theater is a hot.
See it if you're dealing with heart-break. (It's a beautiful slap in the face letting you know its ok!) Honest work from both actors. Snappy writing.
Don't see it if you want flashy costumes and a big set. The only set piece is a bench - and most of the time the actors are sitting. Requires some focus.
See it if You are interested in hearing about young love and lighthearted humor
Don't see it if looking for something more thought provoking about and loss or finding love
See it if you have ever known somebody briefly, now regret letting them go, and want to recognize that you far from alone in having this experience.
Don't see it if you consider yourself incapable of romantic feelings. Or, see it and maybe have your mind changed!
See it if You like to laugh, you're into witty banter, or you like a good love story
Don't see it if You're looking for an action-filled 70 minutes.
See it if you like a show that makes you ask yourself "What happens to Him?". Thought provoking, funny and so relatable. Loved it.
Don't see it if you don't like strangers, squirrels, big umbrellas or waiting.
See it if You love dealing with questions of love and want to think and or/laugh and/or cry. It's a sweet and gentle story of love and heart-break.
Don't see it if You hate Beckett, witty banter, Or aren't into the indie theatre scene.