This Ain’t No Spelling Bee: ‘safeword.’

‘safeword.’ (Photo: Mati Gelman)

By Ryan Leeds

It’s a kinky little world in which we live. In S. Asher Gelman’s world of role play, it’s also pretty far fetched. His new play, safeword., attempts to introduce audiences to bondage, domination, and sadomasochism, but mostly, it’s a lukewarm drama with whips and chains.

Gelman established himself as a thoughtful provocateur with his first work, Afterglow (though the recent Chicago production didn’t live up to its NYC premiere). The 2017 sleeper hit began with three naked men: a married couple and a third guy with whom they’ve opened their relationship. Gelman deftly explored the boundaries that couples create for themselves and the issues raised in an open partnership.

In safeword., he treads many of those same ideas, but the scenarios often seem too contrived. Take, for example, the fact that Micah (Joe Chisholm) and Lauren (Traci Elaine Lee) live in the same New York City apartment building as Micah’s slave master, Xavier (Jimmy Brooks), and his partner, Chris (Maybe Burke). Chris and Lauren “had seen each other around a lot” but only recently became friends. When Lauren invites him and Xavier to dinner, Micah recognizes his neighbor. Awkwardness ensues.

“I just couldn’t imagine Micah with anyone else. Even thinking about it makes me uncomfortable,” Lauren confesses. She’s convinced that her husband has never strayed. How does Micah explain the marks on his back? Crossfit. I’m no expert of that exercise regimen, but I’m quite certain that frequent trips to a slave dungeon might leave more dramatic scars.

‘safeword.’ (Photo: Mati Gelman)

Micah’s obsession with the man upstairs is also a bit implausible. Is there no one else on the island of Manhattan who can fulfill his desires? Apparently not. “I need you,” he pleads to Xavier. “It’s not the same with anyone else; I’ve tried. Please!”

Furthermore, if one were to cheat on a spouse on an ongoing basis, shouldn’t discretion lead you somewhere further than an elevator ride away? Later, the obsession turns dangerous as a near-death situation unfolds at Xavier’s place. Fortunately, Chris is a nurse practitioner — how convenient! For as messy and complicated as these lives are, they certainly find fast and easy solutions.

The major problem with this play is in the approach. Gelman wins major accolades for highlighting difficult topics (some of which the closest of couples don’t discuss). Yet here, it translates into the stuff of corporate training videos. “I have a million questions,” Lauren tells Chris when she first learns what his boyfriend does for a living. From there, the Q&A session indicates rather than relays a story.

Consequently, it doesn’t give the cast enough material to savor. Pacing is also problematic. At a recent performance, it seemed as though the foursome had not yet settled into the text. Perhaps that will improve as it continues to run, but given the clunky script, it’ll be an uphill climb.

safeword., also struggles in its forced attempt at provocation. Gelman wants to titillate his audience with simulated BDSM scenes, but they feel extraneous and leave little to the imagination. Slick provocateurs don’t try to provoke, they simply do it. Here, the plot screams, “Look at how provocative this is! Aren’t we daring?” No, not really.

The best praise in all of this can be found in Ann Beyersdorfer’s set. Its 360-degree design gives us a full view of the entire apartment complex in which these characters dwell.

Gelman, who also directed, derived his title from a pre-discussed word or signal that is used when couples wish to end a particular activity. After 100 minutes — which could have easily been trimmed to 75 — I found mine: “ho-hum.”

safeword.
American Theatre of Actors
314 West 54th Street NYC
Through July 7

Ryan Leeds is a freelance theater journalist who lives in Manhattan. He is the Chief Theater Critic for Manhattan Digest and a frequent contributor to Dramatics Magazine. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

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