Review: Significant Other at Elmwood Playhouse

Significant Other, written by Joshua Harmon and directed by Kathleen Mahan, opened at Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack on January 17th. This rom-com of a play premiered in 2015 and follows main character Jordan as his college friends all find their Mr. Right, and he is left empty handed.  

John Carlos Lefkowitz was an obvious choice in the role of Jordan. Lefkowitz’s humor and ease in the role buoyed the sometimes whiny writing that could bog down the show. The passion Lefkowitz infused into the role while Jordan describes their out of control obsession with the new gay guy in the office hits every note of someone searching desperately for something that is just not there –  but they wish it was. 

Ceili Fitzpatrick is not just a glass of champagne – she’s the whole tower. Her fun in the role of Kiki spills over in the most delightful way. Audiences can’t help but join in on her fun. Balancing out Fitzpatrick is Changu Nan’gandu Chiimbwe’s, who plays Jordan’s friend Vanessa as dry as a shot of vermouth. 

Shane Romer is a spark, lighting up the space with what is supposed to be an annoying, over the top gay foil to Jordan’s serious attitude, but Romer’s steadfastness in what he wants, his open questioning of Jordan, and the truthfulness lining his portrayal makes him a character demanding some more playtime. What is supposed to be an annoying character is instead revealed to be a person more secure than our protagonist. 

Sean Jordan is triple cast as Will, the object of Jordan’s affection, the husband of Kiki, and then the husband of Laura. In a humorous portrayal of obsession, Will seems to be just…a guy. A perfectly fine, normal guy, but just A Guy. It seems as though Jordan has foisted a whole host of expectations and romantic ideas upon this coworker, and it makes for a painful watch when their first date goes about exactly how you’d expect. Jordan is trying to force Will to be his Mr. Right, and it’s like watching a square peg try to fit in a round hole. 

As the play goes on, it is difficult to swallow Jordan’s anger and jealousy towards his female friends experiencing these huge life events. Jordan’s feelings come to a head in the final confrontation between Jordan and his best friend Laura, played beautifully by Sam Snyder. Snyder’s character accuses Jordan of being petulant and moody during her bridal activities, and Lefkowitz laments the amount of money and time spent on all of the bridal activities. Jordan whines about how their friendship won’t be the same, which Laura staunchly refutes. She tries to give him every out, before this level headed “school-marm” character is understandably pushed to the edge. 

The audience feels inclined to take Snyder’s character’s side, who has been incredibly sweet and supportive of Lefkowitz’s dating journey throughout the show, consistently calling him and encouraging him. Jordan is accused by Laura of being petulant because he has been petulant. He spends an inordinate amount of time with his blinders on, honing in on how he cannot find Mr. Right and judging his friends’ weddings, rather than being present with these women who obviously love him. 

One feels that Lefkowitz’s character has not accepted the growing pains of his age, and how, yes, friendships change with time. But that is the nature of friendships. Jordan feels left behind, but this is because he is acting left behind. 

Still, thanks to Lefkowitz’s work and Mahan’s direction, audiences don’t abandon Jordan. They can taste the familiar acrid notes of wanting to be in a place in life you are not. Jordan’s grandmother, played by Carol Napier with all the sweetness of every grandma you’ve ever met, reminds Lefkowitz’s character that life is like a long book and this is just one chapter of it. This reminder refreshes the audience, who has unconsciously put on the same blinders as Jordan. They are reminded that this play is just that; a snippet of one small part of Jordan’s life. It turns the attention inwards, reminding audiences to look at their own struggles in life as just one chapter. 

Audiences can see the show for themselves until Saturday, February 8th at Elmwood Playhouse. Tickets can be purchased at elmwoodplayhouse.com, or by calling 845-353-1313.