‘The Exes’ Abounds with Comical Characters

The Exes – A Review

Playing at New York’s Theatre Row is a new play titled The Exes. Lenore Skomal is the playwright who captures a wedding day involving three people formerly married to each other. By using strong characters, Skomal creates a day that is humorous with some interesting insights into their lives. The play has some very funny moments and the characters Skomal creates give the play the life it needs to lift it off the ground.

The Characters Make the Story

Directed by Magda S. Nyiri, the play opens as Richard Killingworth, prepares for the wedding of his daughter on a very snowy day in Boston. Tim Hayes plays Killingworth, a billionaire who makes money by taking on unique products, getting them off the ground, then selling off for good profits. His current one fits well with the wedding as it is a boutonniere branded “Boutonn-EVERS” so named as the flowers are somehow supposed to live on.

An interesting set is used for this show featuring retro style furniture and accessories. In some ways, the set looks like a scene out of the 60’s and some of the attitudes of the main characters reflect that as well.

David Farrington plays Dick Wright, a friend of Richard’s. He enters the apartment without the aid of Richard’s butler, an Englishman named Prim. John Coleman Taylor plays the role of Prim. His name is a good fit as he is a formal styled man who adheres to the traditions of the British butler and is quite put out when people don’t adhere to their expected roles. Dick Wright is more than just a friend to Richard; he was the first husband of Mavis, who was married to Richard but is now separated. Dick is headed to the wedding but enjoying some drinks with Richard when Dick’s son Garrett arrives. Galen Molk plays the son who likes his dad but also seems to look up to Richard.

And then Mavis Killington unexpectedly arrives. It is a tough time for Richard and Dick as she goes about making herself comfortable. A very prevalent feature of Richard is his continual need to be on the phone working. Even though it is daughter’s wedding day, he doesn’t stop. And thus the problem with Mavis comes out. She had an affair while still married to Richard causing their separation a year ago. Karen Forte plays Mavis who has discovered another person to give her the love she seeks.

Enter The Bride and Marcel

So finally the bride enters. And what an entrance it is! She is lovely, her dress is lovely, even her ugg boots are lovely. However, to sum her up, she is a cliché; nothing original about her. Alison Preece plays Victoria who is in a panic because she still has not gotten her husband-to-be to sign a prenuptial agreement. She consumes a lot of champagne as she comes running to daddy begging for his help. Richard takes over and handles it allowing her to go back to her silly existence and the planned wedding.

A high point in the show happens when Mavis’ lover arrives. However, when he comes onstage just as the first act ends. he is not what one expects. Kyle Porter completely takes over the play as Marcel Nistlerood, Mavis’ colorful and over the top lover. His signature bow got the audience laughing as the players on stage looked like they could not believe what they were seeing.

The Plot Thickens

It takes awhile for all the characters to be brought into the show. In fact, the first act does slow down a bit until Marcel arrives. But the second act moves well as problems get solved easily (maybe too easily) and everyone seems to get what they want.

If you step back and look at the layout of the characters, you have a total of seven in the play. Three are very pretty sturdy characters: Dick, Richard, and Garrett. Three others are more outrageous and comedy oriented: Marcel, Victoria, and Prim. That leaves one character, Mavis in the middle of both worlds. She has been married to two of the sturdy ones. But she left that life to enter the world of Marcel in search of love and acceptance. She also appears to have a solid relationship with Prim and she wants to be like a mother to Victoria. Playwright Skomal does a neat job of tying together the characters and the story with this division of personalities.

Final Thoughts on The Exes

Despite the fact that this is comedy, there is definitely more to The Exes than the laughs. In the end, Richard and Dick appear to have a better relationship. Dick may be the only one left intrigued with Richard. Richard is basically a boring guy, caring only for work. Mavis leaves both of them behind to pursue a new and more interesting life with Marcel. It says a lot about the values people discover about themselves through their trials and tribulations in life.

The Exes runs at Theatre Row, 411 W. 42nd Street, New York, through Oct. 5, 2019. For more information about the show and/or tickets, visit the Theatre Row website.