‘Play Dates’ writer says comedy somewhat autobiographical

For those not familiar with the process of writing a play, a script can seem as if it just appeared one day in the author's head. Los Angeles' Sam Wolfson, during a talk-back session hosted Saturday afternoon by Las Vegas Weekly critic Jacob Coakley with a Las Vegas Little Theatre audience, noted otherwise. Wolfson co-wrote "Jewtopia" and his comedy "Play Dates" runs through Sunday on Little Theatre's mainstage.

The story takes us through three stages of relationships: the childhood crush, the adult pain in trying to find a soulmate, and the energies necessary to keep passion alive in a long-term marriage.

"I started writing it 12 years ago, when I was 25," he said. "I kept putting it aside. I had a lot of other scripts. When the chance to do 'Jewtopia' came along, I said, if this doesn't make it, I'm going back to Poughkeepsie."

"Making it" doesn't begin to describe "Jewtopia's" success. It's now the longest running comedy in off-Broadway's history.

Audience members were curious just how autobiographical "Play Dates" is.

Wolfson was quick to point out that he and his wife have never -- as the characters do in the play -- considered a three-way. But he did admit that a childlike character who is crushed by rejection is based on an early life experience.

And a long, silent sequence in which a couple happily married for 10 years slowly perform their nightly ablutions (shaving, brushing teeth, urinating, and getting careless with body gas) came about when Wolfson noticed he and his wife had become locked into this daily routine. He recognized how much their relationship had changed.

"It's still love," he said. "But it's not the same kind of romantic love."

A woman told Wolfson she enjoyed the play, but she wondered if he had ever thought of ending it with the characters becoming senior citizens.

"That's what I love about Jewish audiences," he said lightly. "They always tell you they liked it, but here's how you should make it better."

It wasn't a profound afternoon, but it was enjoyable to meet the man behind the words. LVLT folks say they'll have similar stuff in the future (lvlt.org). ...

I always enjoy Fathom Events' periodic broadcasts of plays from around the world. Even when I greatly dislike the production, I still feel privileged to have gotten a chance to see top-notch performers.

"Love Never Dies," sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera" which hasn't opened on Broadway, was recently shown from Melbourne at several local movie houses.

To be fair, I find Andrew Lloyd Webber's Puccini-pop music dangerous to my digestion. But at least in "Phantom" we had a developing relationship between the title character and his young, female protege.

Here, they simply repeat all their grievances about their past relationship. This isn't a sequel; it's a repeat.

(Next up: "She Stoops to Conquer." Info: Fathomevents.com.)

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at vegastheaterchat @aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.