To See or Not to See: Engagements

Picture this: You’re scrolling through your social media feeds and notice that just about everyone in your circle is getting engaged! You’re happy for them. You really are. But, then comes those all too familiar feelings of self-doubt and resentment. And, you can’t stomach the idea of attending one more engagement party. If that sounds like you, then you can relate to Lucy’s Teitler’s new comedy: Engagements. It’s a dark but hilarious look at just that and how quickly relationships can unravel. And, we enjoyed every minute of it. But, hurry because the play concludes its run this weekend at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre.

Engagements, set in present-day New England, where it’s summer and love is in the air. Best friends, Allison (Jennifer Kim) and Lauren (Ana Nogueira), are attending yet another engagement party. It’s become trivial at this point—the speeches, the food, the drinks, and the awkward dancing. Like most people, they’d rather be celebrating their own engagement. And, that may come sooner than they think.

Allison is in a serious relationship with “the one.” Mark (Michael Stahl-David) has it all. He’s a successful, good-looking all-American guy. But, one drunken night exposes hidden feelings and creates a messy love triangle. And, the arrival of Lauren’s cousin, Catherine (Brooke Weisman), and her boyfriend, Ryan (Omar Maskati), only makes things more complicated.

Engagements is a brisk, entertaining work that shines with its witty dialogue and immaculate cast. The actors portray the traits of their characters with creativity and subtlety. It never feels over the top which is expected in the comedy genre. And, huge credit goes to Ana Nogueira and Michael Stahl-David who somehow make their flawed characters likable. And, Omar Maskati’s comedic timing is perfect.

Make sure to check out Engagements before it concludes this weekend.