In Pod We Trust: Sex Farce Squared

​THE POLYCULE: A COMEDY OF MANNERS Theater Review

Jillian Blevins’ Molière-inspired The Polycule: A Comedy of Manners is a one-act sex farce about a polyamorous household with all of the dialogue in rhyming verse. Or, to traditionalists and bluenoses, in “per-verse,” as polyamory is consensual non-monogamous sexual relationships. The play’s polyphony of polycule members are: Andy (Alejandro Mungaray) is a straight male and (parttime) partner of the high-strung bisexual Elise (Bita Arefnia-Johnston), who is also getting it on with lusty, free-spirited Mira (Rosie Ryden), who likewise swings both ways. Also living under the same roof is a gay couple, Gary (Silas Jean-Rox) and Kyle (Andres Garcia Arriola), who is perpetually oiling up and snapping selfies, yearning to become a much sought after Internet sensation. The final polycule resident is the longhaired, bearded asexual Vee, effeminately played with finesse in a frilly outfit (Danielle Ozymandias – is that her real name?! – is the costume manager) by the hilarious, scenery chomping Ignacio Navarro.

The action in Blevins’ play seems to take place in contemporary times, and to be set – given the subject matter – in a “swing” state (get it?). The premise of her one-act comedy is that Andy invites the straight, pretty Fern (Macedonia Bullington) to a dinner party at the home of the eponymous polycule he’s a part of. According to  a this,  “‘Polycule’ is an umbrella term which describes a connected network of people and relationships, all of whom are in some way involved emotionally, sexually, or romantically with at least one other person within the polycule.” Andy’s purported reason for introducing Fern to his unconventional roommates is to see if they do become lovers, will Fern fit in with this unusual menagerie?

Andy, however, has something up his sleeve. I don’t know much about polyamory, but for what it’s worth, I did watch Showtime’s 2012 Polyamory: Married & Dating. What I took away from that reality TV series is that pods (which are another type of polyamorous unit) have lots of rules and regulations that determine who members can and cannot have sex with, and when, where, etc. These are not open marriages per se, and that polyamorous arrangements (derangements?) are in some cases far more restrictive than conventional marriages and relationships can be, with more rules and regs than homeowner associations. The Polycule only served to reinforce this repressive impression of code-bound polyamorous amours.

(NOTE: This sentence may contain plot spoilers:) The way Andy has reached out to Fern is strictly against polycule policy, and his pretext for seeking to include this new paramour in the polyamorous unit is a ruse in order to evade being caught breaking even more polycule protocols. The Polycule: A Comedy of Manners is mildly amusing throughout (the largely youthful aud laughed a lot) but not particularly sexy. It’s telling that the cast’s standout performer, Vee, is the only character who is celibate and not a player. Ignacio Navarro plays his part with panache and whenever he/she/it/him/her/their/them/whutevah is the center of a scene, sheer hilarity ensues. Vee’s faux hysteria, throwing a world class hissy fit over Fern’s misuse of the “incorrect” pronoun, is a priceless putdown or sendup of some “woke” sensitive speech standards.

Some may find Jillian Blevins’ rhyming dialogue to be witty, while others may consider it to be merely a distracting, pretentious contrivance. Sean Alan Mazur ably helms his dramatis personae as they romp, preen, pout, make out, et al, around the realistic kitchen and living/dining room set of scenic designers Matthew Scheel and Madylin Sweeten (both have acting credits in the online program but I don’t remember seeing them on the stage opening night). It’s ironic that like a previous bioplay about the “foulmouthed” comic Lenny Bruce, this production about nontraditional relationships is being staged in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, where the Loft Ensemble theater company is based in the NoHo Arts District.

The Polycule reinforced my sense that participants in these types of sexus-nexuses that require permission from others (besides, of course, one’s romantic partner) as to who one may or may not have sex with are arguably squares masquerading as hip. Polyamory may not be free love, but The Polycule is, for the most part, good fun. And it’s for theatergoers interested in alternative lifestyles, gay characters and taking a walk on the not-so-wild side. Ignacio Navarro shenanigans alone make it worth seeing – if not believing.

Loft Ensemble is presenting the world premiere of The Polycule: A Comedy of Manners at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 7:00 p.m. through October 6, 2024, at the Loft Ensemble, 11031 Camarillo Street, North Hollywood, 91602. For tickets: (818)452-3153; www.loftensemble.org. Understudies include Andrea Casamitjana, Madylin Sweeten Durrie and Silas Jean-Rox.