A cancelled flight leads to dramatic developments in "The Layover," a new play presented by Off Broadway's Second Stage Theatre. NY1’s Roma Torre filed the following review.
Second Stage Theatre knows how to put on a show, and that's true even when the show itself doesn't quite measure up. The off-Broadway company's latest: "The Layover" by Leslye Headland, is getting a slickly polished production helmed by director Trip Cullman, but despite a promising start, this is a case of style over substance.
It begins simply enough with Hitchcockian flair - A man and a woman, ‘strangers on a plane’ if you will, awkwardly exchanging small talk as the pilot announces the flight is cancelled and they have to layover in Chicago. The couple's banter suggests mystery and portends something sinister's afoot
However, as we learn more about these two, the plot becomes disjointed. And while Headland is clearly a smart writer, it feels as if she's over-reaching with this story, contriving more depth than the narrative can handle. It’s hard to cite examples without spoilers but I’ll just say the characters are pulled in directions that don’t make a lot of sense. And the ending seems to come out of nowhere.
On the plus side, Cullman’s compelling staging compensates for the play’s weaknesses with excellent technical designs and a splendid cast.
Annie Parisse and Adam Rothenberg engage us from start to finish, even as the play veers off course.
Bottom line: it’s a first class production of an economy class play.
Even at 90-plus minutes, this Layover, intriguing as it is, overstays its welcome.