The Realistic Joneses Tickets

When people meet, there are instances when the first meeting can be awkward in a sense that people make absurd comments and usually miss the point. This is the concept surrounding Will Eno's quirky play, The Realistic Joneses. The play has a storyline that exhibits a thematic feel and richness which is a far cry from the average Broadway comedy shows out there.

The Realistic Joneses premiered on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre. Its story revolves around two couples who meet for the first time which turn into a weird encounter. This ninety minute play presents a remarkable assortment of the cast. It includes Marisa Tomei of "My Cousin Vinny", Toni Collette of "United States of Tara", Tracy Letts, the Tony Award winning playwright/actor and Michael C. Hall of "Dexter". Each of these characters play their part in making the show poignant and humorous. They try to rise above the script more than merely delivering their lines.

The director Sam Gold added bizarreness as one of the key element but defined limits so that it does not get loopy. On the other hand, David Zinn designed the set to match the theme, giving an eerie feel to the show. The show opens in a semi-rural town presenting Tomei as Pony who is nature loving sensitive soul. She is married to an oddball repairman named John, played by Michael, who has a hobby of collecting pamphlets. They move to the area where Bob and Jennifer are their neighbors next door. Played by Letts, Bob is the idiosyncratic character who is of the view that hot air balloons should not be so brightly colored and dislikes them. On the other hand, Collette plays the role of his slightly manic wife named Jennifer who is fond of looking at the international grocery store and food items. The surname of all these four characters is Jones, which explains half the title.

All of these characters strive for a human connection so that they can be understood but that simply does not happen. Why? Because their language keeps them apart and refrains them from doing so. Even if they try to converse in a simple way, they end up complicating it in the worst possible manner. The behavior of these four characters is what makes the show hilarious and a little maddening, maybe because it is just over the heads of the audience. Whatever is the case, the show is fun. Multiple performances of the show are scheduled at the Lyceum Theatre this spring. The Realistic Joneses tickets are now open for sale for interested people.

Elysa Gardner from USA Today writes about the way Eno draws the connection between the four characters in such a way that brings out the elements of commonality of the human condition. Even at the end, the play leaves the characters in an upbeat mode where they are not certain how things would turn out for them.  But that's what life is for us, uncertain. Joe Dziemianowicz, NY Daily News exclaims that it is funny when people try and connect with each other in relationships such as spouses, neighbors or God and they end up nowhere. Chris Jones from Chicago Tribune writes that the play represents the dilemma of Eno who seems to be figuring out which of these four characters is realistic. Come visit the Lyceum Theatre to enjoy the show presented by four star performers. The Realistic Joneses tickets have opened for sale. Get yours today to enjoy this awkwardly funny show.