From October 10 — November 22, 2015, at Portland Center Stage (PCS) the production of Sex With Strangers will be playing at the intimate Ellen Bye Studio, which seats about 200 people (the seating is flexible based on how they arrange it to fit the stage)  and seating is first come first serve when doors open.

Play description:

A raging snowstorm traps strangers Olivia, an unsuccessful yet gifted 39-year-old writer, and Ethan, a tech- addicted and wildly successful young blogger, in a secluded cabin. Opposites instantly attract, and undeniable chemistry ignites. As the dawn rises, however, what could have just been a one-night-stand transforms into something more complicated when online exploits interfere with their real-life connection.

Sex with Strangers Art by Julia McNamara

As soon as I read the premise, I was intrigued how it takes on the topic of relationships and definition of self and how you see someone else in this digital age with internet searches and social media stalking. It asks questions about how you present yourself and how others present you, as well as impressions of you in person versus through other mediums like writing and technology. It also includes themes such as how the field of writing is both personal about how your voice goes out to the world but at the same time, is a commercial product that others use that then define the writer as a person.

And it’s all wrapped up in witty smart banter of a love story  –  will they or won’t they work?

The playwright of Sex With Strangers is Laura Eason, who also has written for the Netflix show House of Cards. Per the helpful A Practical Guide to Sex With Strangers, it’s revealed that the writing sample that helped Laura get the job on House of Cards was from this play. Similar  to the show, the characters are likable but flawed, brilliant but also ambitious and asking a lot and naturally focused on themself, and in all ways interesting enough that you want to know more. There are thoughtful questions asked, but also lots of sprinklings of humor.

The PCS production of Sex with Strangers stars cast members Danielle Slavick and Christopher M. Smith and is directed by Brandon Woolley, Tony Cisek is Scenic Designer and Christine Meyers as the Costume Designer. Christine, I don’t know where you got the clothes for Danielle in Act 2, but I loved them all.

I loved how the production used the space to really make it feel like the interior of a home in both acts –  warm and cozy almost like continual flickering fireplace light in the cabins of Michigan in Act 1, then a high rise city condo in Chicago in Act 2.  I admire some of the quick change of clothes that happened, and how movements expanded the space beyond center stage. The blocking somehow seems normal for an interior while always shifting to make sure there is not a bad seat in the house to watch the scenes.

Danielle and Christopher do an incredible job in portraying the strengths and weaknesses of their characters. You can believe the conversation and thoughts as completely natural for a normal person you might meet in real life, even though we know all along it’s scripted and can be pretty wordy in exposition at times. You can’t help but be both charmed and frustrated by them, just like a real friend as you witness them help each other and grow but also hurt each other.

The conversation back and forth is smart, quick, and works both to further the story and theme in a believable way while continually revealing of who Olivia and Ethan think they are and how the world judges them and thus affects they see themself and the other person. The play is asking us the audience questions on who we think they are based on what they say in their written works, what is said about them by others via reviews of their work (and how much of that is truly representative of them as a person), and what we see said in front of us to each other and how they act expressing who they think they are or want to be. Based on that, will Olivia + Ethan work?  
Portland Center Stage Sex with Strangers Danielle Slavick as Olivia and Christopher M. Smith as Ethan in “Sex with Strangers” at Portland Center Stage. Photo by Patrick Weishampel

Sex With Strangers run is from October 10 — November 22, 2015.

Performance Times and Prices (Wheelchair and youth/student tickets $25-30. Rush tickets are $20. See more details and other ticket specials for groups or military here) are

• Evenings: 7:30 PM on Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun ($50) or 7:30 PM Friday or Saturday ($55)
• Matinees: 2 PM Saturday ($40) or Noon on Thursdays ($40)
• Note: Tickets to show in the studio are general admission: a ticket reserves you a place for a specific performance, but not for a specific seat so it’s first come first serve as you enter the theater. They open the doors about 20 minutes or so before the showtime. In the Ellen Bye Studio, which seats about 200 people,  the seating is flexible based on how they arrange it to fit the stage and in this case you sit on left, right, and center facing the stage. Still, there isn’t a bad seat.

The run time of the play is about 120 minutes with 1 intermission. Sex with Strangers is recommended for ages 16+; contains mature language  (a lot of it!), brief nudity and adult situations. Sex is imminent. Children under 6 are not permitted at any PCS production. Because of the small nature of the Ellen Bye Studio, there is no late seating or re-entry.

As a special treat, for the Saturday October 24 production, there is a special show afterward called Booty Call: Outrageous and Funny Stories after the show where for $5, you can further explore the topic of getting together along with music by DJ Blind Bartimaeus.

Also in the lobby is a pretty fun Eat Me Desserts machine loaded with yummies like

• Black Velvet Cake Parfait with Mocha Whipped Cream
• Sweet Potato Cake Parfait with Mascarpone Whipped Cream and Lemon Curd
• Toasty Dark Chocolate dipped Coconut Macaroons
• Brownie Cookie-wiches filled with chocolate whipped cream (Gluten-Smart!)
• Ginger Bacon Cookie-wiches filled with Whipped Cream Cheese
• Peanut Butter Pie Parfait
• Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta topped with Salted Caramel and Candied Filbert hazelnuts
• Salted Caramel Apple Cake Parfait with Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting

Each treat is priced around $5.  The Eat Me Desserts Machine is scheduled to live in the PCS lobby throughout the season, but it is also available to rent for parties and special events. You should check it out!

Disclosure: I was invited to see this production, but I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own