By David Walters
What Happened Was… is riveting in its character interplay, stripped-down, bare bones to the essence of story in its direction and design, and a damn fine evening of intimate theater.
With the backing of Audible Theater, the Audible Minetta Lane Theatre has, since 2018, presented nearly 150 award winning productions performed, recorded, and released by Audible. Their goal is to bring audiences closer to theater making it more intimate and far reaching.
Currently they have partnered with the newly formed acting company Together, created by producer Sonia Friedman and actor Hugh Jackman, as both groups put forth similar goals of paring theater down to its essence, making it accessible, and giving audiences a more personal experience.
This year Together and Audible have mounted (or will soon open) three productions: Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (closed), What Happened Was… (through June 14), and New Born (to open May 8).
In What Happened Was…, actors Corey Stoll (Michael, a pretend writer) and Cecily Strong (Jackie, a vanity press published writer) inhabit the roles of two people who work at the same law firm in Manhattan, one an executive assistant and the other a para legal. After knowing each other at the firm for years, Jackie has invited Michael to her apartment on a date (Michael doesn’t take it as such), and it is her birthday. Two awkward, self-centered, lonely, frightened people, what could go wrong. Both actors play well off of each other and are a delight to watch as they unconsciously slice each other to bits with words like paper cuts.
Playwright Tom Noonan’s dialogue is crisp and strongly character based, giving each actor diamonds to work with as they reveal aspects of themselves and discover intimacies about each other. He gives each actor a monologue near the end of the play that this writer doesn’t feel is well earned, but other than that the play was invigorating to watch and listen to as each character bounced off of each other. Wait until you hear Jackie read from her published children’s story. It’s a delightful moment that melds together actors and audience. A rare treat in theater.
What Happened Was…, written by Tom Noonan and directed by Ian Rickson.
Actors: Corey Stoll and Cecily Strong.
Scenic Design by Brett J. Banakis and Christine Jones; Costume Design by Kaye Voyce; Lighting Design by Japhy Weideman; Sound Design by Mikaal Sulaiman.
Now through June 14 at Audible Minetta Lane Theater, 18 Minetta Lane (btwn 6th Avenue and Macdougal)
Runs approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes without an intermission.
Triggers (both comedic and somewhat darker) of murder, sexual abuse, and cannibalism.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
