SIGNIFICANT OTHER by Carol Kaufman Segal

            Significant Other is playing at the Geffen Playhouse after its successful run Off-Broadway and Broadway.  Listed as a comedy, I found it to be much more, as it offers depth into the soul of a young man looking for his own mate.  It was written by Joshua Harmon, (writer of Bad Jew).

            Jordan Berman (Will Von Vogt) is a single, young professional man in his late 20’s who has had a longtime, close-knit friendship with a group of young women.  These longtime friends include Kiki (Kelly McQuail), Vanessa (Vella Lovell), and closest of all, Laura (Melanie Field).

            Jordan is a bit of a dreamer and falls for Will (John Garet Stoker who also plays Conrad and Tony), one of his co-workers, when he sees him at a company pool party in his bathing suit.  He describes his feelings to his best friends, relaying a description of his wet body to them.  Then he acquiesces to Facebook to try to learn all about him,  He visualizes being with him, and reveals each tidbit to his friends,   He debates with himself as to whether or not to ask him to a movie, and finally does.  The evening leaves Jordan without any idea of whether there was any interest.   But Will moves away and that ends any chance that there might have been.           

            Meanwhile, Kiki, one of Jordan’s close friends gets engaged and becomes the first to get married, followed by Vanessa.  But when Laura becomes engaged, Jordan becomes unstrung as their friendship was extra special.  Even though he is happy for her, he sees the change in their friendship untenable. 

            Jordan’s close relationship with his Grandmother, Helene Berman (Concetta Tomei) is heartwarming during the moments the two of them are seen together reminiscing about family and life.  She does her best to reason with him and to convince him that he is just going through a difficult period at this time in his life.  But Jordan is not convinced that he will ever find “the one”.

            The scene in the play between Jordan and Laura, before her wedding, is the crème de la crème of the entire play that precedes the finale when her wedding takes place.  A comedy it is with perfect performances under the direction of Stephen Brackett, but there is a bit of nostalgia as well.   Preston Martin (Zach/Even/Roger) rounds out the cast.

            Significant Other plays Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM, through May 6, in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles.  Tickets are available at the Geffen Playhouse Box Office, by phone at (310) 208-5454, or online at www.geffenplayhouse.org.   

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