Asuncion

Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Bartha star in Asuncion. A Rattlestick Playwrights Theater presentation, by special arrangement using the Cherry Lane Theater, of the play in 2 functions by Jesse Eisenberg. Directed by Kip Fagan.Vinny - Justin Bartha Edgar - Jesse Eisenberg Stuart - Remy Auberjonois Asuncion - Camille ManaJesse Eisenberg has written themself a juicy acting role in "Asuncion" being an idealistic social reformer whose intellectual pretensions lead him to the precise complete opposite of Mark Zuckerberg, the frightening-awesome Facebook founder Eisenberg performed in "The Social Networking." Scribe throws this youthful jerk a neat theatrical curve when he introduces him and the smug roommate to some Filipina who challenges their patronizing presumptions about class and ethnic identity. But Eisenberg puts no further demands on his figures, departing them frozen inside a sitcom plot that goes nowhere. Helmer Kip Fagan feels safe using the louche vibe of downtown theater, which easy confidence shows itself within this production for Rattlestick. Although play is occur an upstate college town, John McDermott's slovenly student apartment and Jessica Pabst's casual-chic rags would your style in to the NYU-nation within the East Village. Eisenberg might possibly not have an idea about plotting, but he's a facile comic skill for drawing eccentric figures and putting them in unhealthy associations. He just does not know what to do next. Roommates Edgar (Eisenberg) and Vinny (Justin Bartha of "Hangover" fame) have among individuals lethal associations. Vinny is definitely an advanced graduate student in Black Studies who grossly over-identifies together with his academic thesis. Edgar is really a self-anointed reformer who romanticizes poverty and blindly occupies social causes they know nothing about. Bartha is sufficient funny giving Vinny as much as Pan African blues ecstasy while stoned. ("You have some African shit the following!Inch) Eisenberg includes a terrific moment when Edgar apologizes for that gang kids who beat him bloody and stole his wallet. ("They are oppressed by everything.") Both thesps locate fairly easily the safe place where their insecure figures draw strength using their sadomasochistic friendship. The amusing if creepy relationship between these mutually desperate roommates is tossed off-balance when Edgar's your government, Stuart (Remy Auberjonois, as overbearing as large siblings are wont to become), drops off his beautiful Filipina bride, Asuncion (a blithe spirit in Camille Mana's animated perf), and will take off on some undisclosed errand. Asuncion is flakier than phyllo dough, which leaves Vinny and Edgar liberated to model of her the things they will. Engaging in her groove, Vinny just really wants to enjoy her, while Edgar, that has been brought to think she's a mail-order bride, projects all his dimwitted social sights on her behalf. But nothing dramatic comes of the awkward threesome. Because Asuncion is really an airhead, she becomes the play's fatal flaw, too vacuous to be the proper catalyst and too shallow to keep happens by herself. Which leaves Edgar and Vinny stuck within their caricatured roles, making funny talk but saying nothing of consequence.Set, John McDermott costumes, Jessica Pabst lighting, Ben Stanton seem, Bart Fasbender production stage manager, Melissa Mae Gregus. Opened up March. 27, 2011. Examined March. 25. Running time: one hour, 40 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com