'Midnight' Strikes hilarity
Newcomer Peter Ackerman scores big with 3-bedroom farce

by David Kaufman

'Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight: A Comedy in Three Beds" is a contemporary sex farce you should see just as soon as you can -- even though it's bound to be around for a quite some time. This riotously funny work is Peter Ackerman's welcome debut as a playwright.

Set in the wee hours of the morning, the play opens on Nancy and Ben in the throes of passion. At the height of her ecstasy, Nancy blurts out "Do me! Do me! Do me, you hook-nosed Jew!"

Needless to say, this puts a damper on their lovemaking, and prompts an argument -- possibly the first in their six month relationship. Eventually, Nancy storms out of the apartment, shortly after Ben tells her: "At least I don't say, 'Rape me, you white trash hillbilly,'" and "People say what they don't mean all the time. I could say I'm straight and really be gay."

As bed No. 2 swivels into view, we observe Grace and her new boy toy of the last five nights, Gene, a self-described hit man. They're trying to sort out their own problems when the buzzer rings: It's Nancy. She thinks Ben is gay and urgently needs Grace's advice, even if it is 3 a.m.

Neither Grace nor Gene knows how to handle Nancy's suspicions. But Gene's brother, Mark, is a gay therapist who could probably shed some light on the matter. They phone Mark, interrupting his passionate session with his beau, the elderly Mr. Abramson.

The plot may be formulaic, the characters may be broad and you might yearn for a less-predictable ending. But the hilarious dialogue just gets better and better, as the lines fly by like rapid-fire artillery. This is especially true after Grace compels Nancy to call Ben and -- with the help of three-way calling and a speakerphone -- they all participate in this dilemma.

Under John Rando's skillful direction, the entire cast clearly understands that the best way to tackle farce is by playing it straight, so to speak. If Erin Dilly (Nancy), Clea Lewis (Grace) and Jeffrey Donovan (Gene) are particularly strong, Nicholas Kepros may finally receive the attention he deserves for his long career on the New York stage. He is simply priceless as the often-befuddled Mr. Abramson.

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