Six Degrees of Separation made me miss Will Smith

Even with my complete disdain for the current day Will Smith, definitely not talking about his Fresh Prince days, I found myself longing for him to pop-up on stage and rekindle something that was flaming out. Now don’t get me wrong, Six Degrees of Separation (now playing until Feb. 9 at Actor’s Express) is a wonderful play that includes thought, comedy, societal critique on race and class, and heart, the kind of heart that wants you to help a sociopath. But for a roundabout show like this one there needs to be something keeping it alive in the audiences eyes. My eyes got sleepy and my brain wandered around the time that the yuppie children truly came into play.

I don’t know whether it was the casting or simply an off night, but there was a lack in energy and in the most important thing, charisma. The audience is supposed to believe that this young black man is to persuade his way into these wealthy white penthouses, sleep in their children’s beds and take money from their hands. Jason-Jamal Ligon did a good job, but he lacked in what was most important. I didn’t believe that this man with his quiet ways, could out a man in a committed heterosexual relationship, and sneak into so many lives. He just didn’t fit the bill that night. He was fine in the more serious parts but even while speaking about his supposed lost thesis and Holden Caulfield there was some sort of over-the-topness missing. He is a con man, he is a liar, he eventually leads a man to his death. So where is that extra something that makes him psychotic and yet at the same time affable?

Mary Lynn Owen was amazing. I was most convinced by her willingness and vulnerability. She took her character on a ride from emotionally blind living to opening herself up to the former “other” in her lifestyle. But no transformation is ever complete. The rest of the cast pulled the message of the play forward, added to the bouts of humor and silliness, and rounded out this idea of you never know who you will meet, influence, or be influenced by.

It was good, it wasn’t solid. And with theatre, the minor details are what makes a work complete.

I do totally want to read Catcher in the Rye again, though.