Skintight is a dramatic vehicle for Idina Menzel to demonstrate her acting skills. Written by Joshua
Harmon and directed by Daniel Aukin, it’s more soap opera than a play with a real message.
The show, at the Laura Pels Theatre, is about beauty, youth, and sex. Menzel’s character, Jodi Isaac, is approaching middle age and depressed that her ex-husband is engaged to a younger woman. She comes to New York seeking support and solace from her 70-year-old father, Elliot Isaac (played by Jack Wetherall). She is repulsed and shocked to find him in a relationship with a 20-year-old, Trey (Will Brittain). As is a common soap-operaish theme, the object of Elliot’s affection is the same age as Jodi’s son Benjamin Cullen (Eli Gelb).
We could certainly ask ourselves what the purpose of this play is, and why we should care about the characters. Are we proffering the concept of beauty and youth over intellect and knowledge?
Overall, if you are a soap-opera fan, this may be the show for you. Otherwise, although the acting is decent and Idina Menzel demonstrates her dramatic style, it’s not.
