Kiss Me On The Mouth

photo: Michael Millard

The premise of this new naturalistic comedy-drama by Melanie Angelina Maras seems like sitcom material – we follow two NYC gal pals as they embark on new relationships with guys – but the writing digs a bit deeper than you might assume and the play often strikes truthful chords of recognition about friendship. Initially, the characters seem more like comic types than people – when we meet Amy (Megan Hart) she’s not-too-believably considering nunhood, and at first glance Christina (Aubyn Philabaum) seems as thin as any overprivileged urban rich girl – but the playwright peels back layers and gradually reveals the characters’ vulnerabilities and contradictions. The four-person cast, under Stephen Adly Guirgis’ direction, fit snugly together and put the play over with conviction and wit.