by: Sandi Durell
There’s Joanne (et al), played by the multi-talented Michele Ragusa and Gary (et al) Thom Sesma, also a man of many talents, who play a divorced couple – that’s because he finally came out of the closet – who each run their own travel agency. Gary has been in the business all his life inheriting his family’s agency; Joanne is a more recent entry, and each is vying for a prestigious Globel Prize.
The two person comedy at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, written by Greg Edwards and Andy Sandberg (who also directs), was actually commissioned by a luxury travel agent and is filled with groaners about the industry and its clients, who appear each time the phone rings, in a constant barrage as Ragusa and Sesma morph from character to character assuming various dialects. There are lots of jokes that don’t quite make it laden with politically incorrect innuendo – from Australians to Chinese to Jamaicans to Lithuanians . . . and even Patti Lupone.
The phones keep ringing as they perform their duties to make anything and everything happen to suit a clients’ needs and wishes no matter how ridiculous or far-fetched. It does become tedious. But what emerges out of this 1 hour 20 minute no intermission piece, is that “nothing is impossible” – it’s one big quid pro quo! The best thing about “Craving for Travel” are the worthwhile performances turned in by Ragusa and Sesma.
Through February 9th – Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 416 West 42nd Street, NYC
*Photo: Joan Marcus
