BAD CONNECTIONS?

The "interweaving stories" motif is given a brave spin in this one-man show performed by Paul Cosentino. The high-blood pressure lives of 9 New Yorkers, including a middle-aged Jewish wife, a pregnant black woman, and an effusive yoga instructor, all collide on a rainy Manhattan day. We know this gimmick very well, but thanks to Cosentino's nuanced performance, this production gives us the unique experience of witnessing darting story lines through the lens of one very game actor. Cosentino seems particularly at home with certain characters, especially an East Indian guru who pulls us into meditation and the heartbreaking Debra Steiner, an initially stereotypical Jewish wife who takes some surprising turns toward the end. With virtually n... full review

The concept of apparently unrelated characters who become intertwined by story's end has become less of a novelty in recent years (think "Crash," "Nine Lives," or "Babel"). And while the topos gains some traction in a story about Manhattanites, the backbone motif "Bad Connections?" still feels labored. But don't kill the messenger. Losing interest in the cleverness of the script should not mean losing interest in Paul Cosentino's dexterous and occasionally pitch-perfect performance. Make that performances. He is, after all, inhabiting nine characters--each with their own physical tics, vocal shades, and smoothly distinctive lighting cues. Cosentino succeeds especially in his portrayal of an addled middle-aged Jewish woman, a tough-t... full review

Stop. Look. Listen. Sage advice from the placid, amiable guru who serves as an anchor in the interweaving lives of the 8 other characters – each played distinctly by Paul Cosentino. The guru asks the class participants to think over the connections they’ve made that day and to look deeper. From the middle-aged Jewish wife, to the young pregnant black girl, to the gay Yoga instructor – these characters remind us that we’re all connected. Michael Levesque’s script craftily interweaves the story lines, each one beginning where the previous one leaves off, eventually building up to interaction between characters. With Thom Fogarty’s simple and genuine direction, Cosentino seamlessly flows from one character to the next. Although the script is... full review