Big theaters are fine things. Lots of people get to enjoy spectacles, the dancing, the costumes, the sets, the orchestras. But if you’ve ever missed, consciously or not, intimacy, consider this.
The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron has opened at the Playhouse at Westport Plaza. Robert Dubac, the guy who brought us The Book of Moron a few months ago, is back with this, his first show. It’s a monologue with a story line about a self-named character whose girlfriend has decamped. The theme is how men and women think differently, not a new topic, certainly, but one with ample opportunity for laughs. Dubac manages this with a fair amount of grace and a considerable amount of humor. It’s not free of stereotypes, goodness knows, and the occasional scientific error (our sexual organs are not the cause of our chromosomes, they’re the result of them), but he’s quick and funny.
And he’s amazing to watch. In these close confines, the physical changes in his face and his body language are fascinating. He uses five other characters in the course of the ninety minutes. Not all of these guys are endearing, certainly, but to be able to watch this work in the close-up confines of the venue is remarkable. The irresistible Fast Eddie, with a Jack Nicholson-esque delivery, is almost enchanting.
Dubac, who wrote his own script, is gifted. What we’ve got here is an evening of quick-witted standup comedy. No intermission, and, as everyone seems to be quick to point out, drinks may be brought into the theater. You won’t need alcohol to enjoy it, though.
The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron
through March 26
Playhouse at Westport Plaza