Crazy Love Looks at Relationships from the Farcical Side

Celine (Joanna Stone) is a wild card in the deck of life, a bouncy irrepressible spirit who yells all of her wants and desires as if daring the universe not to listen. She is married to the slightly uptight Tom (Travis Bermann), a working man and a weekend philosopher who sees it as his responsibility in life to provide for Celine. But Celine does not see fidelity as part of the contract, and strikes up a situationship with Augustus (Bennett Ferguson), who gives her all the excitement and passion that she perceives Tom incapable of.

After Tom confronts the pair and condemns the love triangle he didn’t sign up for, he and Augustus unexpectedly bond over lengthy weed-smoking sessions, discussing life, the universe and everything Celine. Soon even their burgeoning bromance begins to slide beyond the platonic. They grow closer as they find themselves deciding together how to best care for the runaway train heading towards a brick wall that is the woman they both love.

Despite the hilarious antics, there’s a relatable reality under the surface. Between the jokes lies a familiar, genuine desperation that befalls many living in the modern world of chaos and insecurity. All three of our heroes just want to be understood and seen, to be loved and looked after, and to belong somewhere.

The actors all shine, giving energetic performances that shoot out of the gate to 60 mph and stay there. Stone’s flair for physical comedy is astonishing, and Bermann and Ferguson’s comic befuddlement is priceless. Despite the raucous comedic tone of the piece, they never fall into caricature, maintaining the reality and humanity of their characters throughout. Playwright Charlotte Meehan keeps things upbeat and witty with dialogue that is not only hysterical and sparkling, but filled with truth.

Crazy Love is stylishly directed by Emma Schwartz, with lighting by Zachary Dulny and sets by Gabriella Bonifacio. It runs at the American Theater of Actors through June 2, 2024.