What I liked
The dialogue. OMG THE DIALOGUE. Frankie can write the shit out of some dialogue. There are some scenes in this play that are on par with some of Jennifer Saunders’ best work. Especially the responses to the behavior of the waiter Todd. Really just jaw-dropping writing in some of those scenes. If I were a film producer I’d be hiring Frankie to punch up scripts all day, every day. She clearly has a nearly perfect ear for dialogue.
While she wasn’t always given the best material, Dorina’s performance stood out among the cast of four. Alan when he was speaking to his phone also had some great moments.
I really enjoyed the detail in the video projections. Things such as the fluctuating battery life of the phone, the fake news headlines such as a “Florida Man” joke or mention of a fourth Jonas Brother were well thought out and not drawn attention to. That’s always a great sign of the care that was put into the show. I enjoyed the pre-show music of the Lindsay Lohan song on a continuous loop. There were a ton of really clever small details littered throughout the entire production making the best use of a limited space and budget.
What I didn't like
The direction was kind of all over the place. Some scenes were directed like a sitcom for television, others like an improv group showcase, and some I don’t even know what the style was. There were moments where it seemed like the three leads were all in different shows. It was just uneven is my point and it distracted from the final scene of the show. The script was strong enough overall that another pair of eyes on the stage would have benefited the show greatly. As best I could understand it Frankie was taking on a LOT of jobs at once and the show was going to suffer somewhere. The direction (or perhaps due to time and budget constraints) the lack of rehearsal time in the theater itself may have contributed to this.
My overall impression
A smart and funny show about what happens when you start living for the gram.
