REVIEW: The Scene You Need

This last Thursday, I attended the opening night of third and final installment of The New York Stories Trilogy: The Scene You Need.   I had not seen the first two installments: Another Tale of Eddie and The King of Pop, but was still able to follow the plot and enjoy The Scene You Need.  My friend, Katy, and I came that night to support our fellow Short Stories Book Club member, Charles Sommers.  Charles directed and wrote the third installment of the trilogy and he sat with us on opening night.  I learned from him that many of the six main characters in this play were in the previous two and the focus of the trilogy is on Manhattan artist culture in the 1970s.  In this play the characters are hanging out at CBGB and towards the end are moving to Studio 54. 

The play begins with Eddie, a struggling playwright, and Rose, his soon to be ex-girlfriends in the middle of their last fight together as a couple.  The play then follows these two ex-lovers a year or so later, where they both continue to live in New York and do there best to avoid each other.  We also meet four other characters a veteran, a punk rocker, the mayor, and a party girl who hangs out with Andy Warhol.   In the various acts they discuss a range of topics from the horrors of the Vietnam War, the greatest game, the end of punk rock, and falling out of love.  

I asked Charles after the play what his reaction was from seeing it with a live audience for the first time.  He reported that he was surprised that “it was funnier than I had expected.”  I agree with Charles that there were plenty of laughs in this play, even when discussing some difficult topics.  One of my favorite scenes is when Izzy, who claims that she created punk rock, strikes up a conversation with Sam, a Vietnam vet, at an adult movie theater.  These two keep the audience laughing as they discuss their favorite artist at the Met and the give a review of the porn movie they are currently watching.

I would highly recommend checking out this brilliant play that gives you glimpse of the New York art scene in the 1970s.  The play is showing at the Alchemist Theater (2569 S. Kinnickinnic Ave, Bay View http://www.thealchemisttheatre.com/ ) on June 25, 26, 27, and July 9, 10, and 11^th at 7:30pm.  After seeing this play I wish I had seen the first two of the trilogy, but this one is capable standing by itself.