New Jersey - "The M Spot"

Regional Reviews: New Jersey

The M Spot
Stay For The Healing
New Jersey Repertory Company

Also see Bob's reviews of From Up Here, Guadalupe in the Guest Room and In the Car with Blossom and Len

Pheonix Vaughn, Jill Eikenberry, and Michael Tucker

The M Spot by Michael Tucker, in a world premiere production at New Jersey Repertory Company, is a perfect vehicle for Tucker and his real life wife Jill Eikenberry, who portray spouses Jerry and Maddie, a comfortable late middle aged couple. The first act is titled "Jerry and Maddie" and is set in their Upper West Side apartment. For the greater part of the act, Jerry in the eat-in kitchen and Maddie in their bedroom speak directly to the audience, delivering a series of alternating monologues. When Jerry speaks, Maddie mostly assumes yoga positions and meditates. When Maddie speaks, Jerry makes coffee and sits at the kitchen table drinking the coffee and doing a crossword puzzle. Among other things, Jerry talks about his parents, his psychiatrist, his eccentricities, phobias and health, his thoughts about Maddie and their marriage (he is annoyed that Maddie wants him to stop smoking pot, although he has done so throughout their entire relationship). His style is that of an amusing raconteur. When it is Maddie's turn to speak, she tells us that Jerry, a writer of non-fiction feature articles, is an embellisher, but that what we hear from her will be the truth. She tells us a great deal about her childhood and parents, that she has had breast cancer and a recurrence, and that Jerry is writing a novel in which she is lovingly portrayed and dies at the end of chapter four. There is much more, too much more, albeit of a pretty good thing.

I'll break the flow here to give you a sample of some of Michael Tucker's felicitous writing. Maddie is self conscious about the deviation between the sizes of her breasts after having had two lumpectomies in one of them. She relates to us that "Jerry doesn't mind. He says I'm The Lady from Nizez/ Had breasts of two different sizes/ The one that was small was not much at all/ But the other one won several prizes."

Here is the information that really counts. Both Maddie and Jerry believe that their sexual relationship has been really, really good. However, Jerry seems to fear that age is starting to diminish them, and, in a bid to revitalize himself, he had booked them a weekend in Humboldt Hot Springs, California, "a kind of combination spiritual retreat - you know, yoga classes, meditation - and sex club... (where) everybody's naked all the time," complete with a sensual masseuse.

At first, Maddie agreed to go out of fear of making Jerry angry. When she mentioned this to their psychiatrist, the latter told her that she should not go unless she wanted to, and she so informed Jerry, who now is very angry.

In the final scene of the first act, we finally hear Maddie and Jerry speaking to one another. Convinced that Jerry wants to go to the California retreat in order to strengthen their relationship, Maddie agrees to go. Curtain.

The second act is titled "Star." As it begins, it is early evening shortly after Jerry and Maddie's arrival at the retreat. Jerry has gone out to buy a bottle of wine, and Maddie is alone in their large, comfortably furnished cabin. There is a knock on the door and Star Rabinowitz, their youthful, free spirited and attractive sensual masseuse, bursts into the cabin, laden down with a folding massage table and a backpack filled with her tools. Star has arrived early and cannot wait for Jerry to return because a family medical emergency requires her presence as a baby sitter presently.

She tells Maddie that she can have her own massage. Star's spirit and enthusiasm, stated credentials, lucid descriptions, and proffered benefits convince Maddie to go along. Although, when Star removes all her clothing, Maddie has a doubtful moment. The massages (including stimulation of the vaginal G spot) are Tantric massages widely regarded as healing physical and psychological wounds in a manner possibly akin to acupuncture. Others are sexual and employed to enable the elimination of disabling inhibitions. The too good to be true (and that is no impediment here) Star also elucidates a bit of logical, not uncommon, analysis of female psychology. There is humor, lively enthusiasm, a bit of titillation and pleasure in Maddie's breakthrough treatment. Because Star (actually, Michael Tucker) knows her (his) stuff, there is substance and enlightenment which goes far beyond what one would expect in popular, high concept entertainment such as this. Jerry only arrives on the scene at the end of the treatment, nonplused, but certain to reap substantial benefits from Maddie's treatment. As to the healing massages and the like, have no fear it is all concealed underneath the lovely sheet wore by Maddie.

Michael Tucker brings an ingratiating yet strong stage presence and a likeably brash comic style to the role of Jerry. The likeable and sympathetic Jill Eikenberry delightfully captures and projects the humor and joy of the transforming Maddie. Pheonix Vaughn effortlessly and exuberantly makes a cakewalk of the difficult task of making the Age of Aquarius Star convincing and loveable.

Director Evan Bergman has smoothly and tastefully staged the a bit out there massage therapy session which comprises most of the second act without putting any damper on its humor and joyfulness. Jessica Parks' white rectangular box divided into two rooms and decorated with just a few properties represents Jerry and Maddie's New York apartment, and gives way to a large, detailed and evocative design of a fancy vacation mountain cabin which is decorated to look to be in better shape than it actually is.

The M Spot is a very entertaining, high concept serious comedy which has potential for widespread success. It should greatly benefit from extensive pruning of the overextended series of monologues which comprise most of the first act. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that it would become an iconic show for feminists seeking to champion the increasing acceptance by women of their sexuality. Surely, many will respond to Star's awakening in Maddie the recognition that, even in marriage, her body belongs to no one but herself.

By all means, come to see Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker, come for the sexuality, and come for the laughs, but be sure to stay for the healing.

The M Spot continues performances (Evenings: Wednesday(added), Sunday 7 pm; Thursday - Saturday 8 pm / Matinees: Saturdays 3 pm; Sunday 2 pm through March 29, 2015, at New Jersey Repertory Company, 179 Broadway, Long Branch, New Jersey 07740; box office: 732-229-3166; online: www.njrep.org.

The M Spot by Michael Tucker; directed by Evan Bergman

Cast
Maddie..Jill Eikenberry
Jerry...Michael Tucker
Star.Pheonix Vaughn

Photo: SuzAnne Barabas

- Bob Rendell