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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Significant Other
Significant Other is a realistic, funny and ultimately poignant exploration of friendship, love, and the occasionally painful process of watching life move forward for those around you when you feel like your life is stuck in neutral. With a talented cast and crisp direction, Valley Players' production captures the authenticity of Harmon's play, where the dialogue flows naturally and the conversations between the close friends the play depicts are realistic. The relationships portrayed on stage feel lived-in and natural, with moments of humor and heartbreak that mirror the complexities of real life. The result is a solid production of a play that is not only charming and humorous but also resonates. The play follows Jordan, a single gay man in his late twenties, as he navigates the ever-shifting dynamics of his friendships with his three close female friends as they begin to marry. Jordan is the loyal confidant to his friends but also someone who struggles with his own longing for connection. The story unfolds in a series of vignettes set over a couple of years that reveal both the joy and the ache of growing up while also the natural impact of growing apart when close friends get married. Harmon writes with a keen ear for how people speak and how they reveal or conceal their emotions, making each exchange ring true; even the many phone conversations or rambling voice messages that Jordan leaves feel authentic. While, at times, Jordan can come across as selfish, as his focus on his own loneliness makes it hard for him to fully celebrate his friends' milestones, this is also a realistic and empathetic portrayal of someone painfully aware of potential romantic opportunities slipping away, leaving them feeling left behind as they age and see their friends married off. Harmon also paints Jordan as three dimensional: a man often obsessively infatuated with people in his world, even if he doesn't know if they are gay or straight, and also someone who just wants to feel a connection with a person and to have them tell him they love him. However, while Significant Other offers a realistic and heartfelt portrayal of friendships and longing, the play does feel slightly drawn out and repetitive. The plot is fairly simple, and at times the repetition makes certain moments lose some of their impact. Also, the play may not resonate as strongly with everyone, especially if they don't have many single friends or never dealt with the feeling that life was passing them by. Fortunately, the ending isn't rushed or forced and feels as authentic as Harmon's dialogue. The cast excel at breathing realism into their characters and finding the subtle nuances in Harmon's script. Under Elias Matthews' keen direction, they create characters that form a believable group dynamic, which makes the gradual changes in their relationships all the more affecting. As Jordan, Keenan Smith delivers a performance filled with warmth, vulnerability, and nervous energy, while also being self-absorbed and immature at times, making the character immediately relatable. Through Smith's distinct and authentic performance, when Jordan feels the relationships with his three closest friends slipping away as they each get married, you immediately feel for him and want him to find the joy he's been dreaming of. Jamie Graves, Arielle Tuffentsamer, and Daisha Hill portray Jordan's three close girlfriends, Laura, Vanessa, and Kiki, and all bring distinct personalities to their roles, infused with confidence, wisdom, and quirky charm. Graves has the larger role of the three women and her expressive gestures and sharp comic timing get laughs while her grounded delivery of dialogue oozes empathy, even in a dramatic moment she shares with Smith in the second act. Victoria Ronan is charming and touching as Jordan's grandmother, and Rory Williams and Hovig Artinian are good, playing a series of supporting characters. Matthews' set design is minimalistic, with just a few set pieces and simple props. Yet the direction uses the small space to great advantage and by just using a bar-height cocktail table, or a recliner and an end table with family photos, you immediately know exactly where you are. The small stage and the close proximity of the actors and audience bring an immediacy to the action, pulling viewers into Jordan's world. Significant Other is a heartfelt, honest portrayal of love and friendship in modern life, but also a drama that makes you realize that one's life is a long story and, while you may not be happy with where you are, it's all about getting to the next chapter. With realistic dialogue, a committed cast, and thoughtful direction, Valley Players' production offers laughs and dramatic moments that land with equal force. Significant Other runs through August 17, 2025, at Valley Players, with performances at Main Street Creative Arts Center, 933 E Main St, Mesa AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.valleyplayersaz.com. Director: Elias Matthews Cast: |
