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It's so simple. Veronica (Jennie Olson) and Richard (Marc Biagi), a
couple for the last few years, invite three of their favorite marrieds
or almost-marrieds over for cocktails. It's a tradition. Maria (Melanie
Sutherlin) and Mark (Tyler Joshua Herdklotz), a nice engaged couple
with just a few deep-seated problems, are invited. There's Luke (Thomas
Hall), living with the charming Kate (Teresa Beckwith). And, finally,
John (Stephen Rowe) and Ann (Savvy Scopeletti) join the group, with
their own serious problems. These are the loveable characters in Kevin Six's hilarious new play, Love Negotiated,
premiering at the Swedenborg Hall under the capable direction of San
Diego icon D. J. Sullivan. Six has forewarned you of things to come by
virtue of his title; negotiate does mean bargaining with another. The
'bargaining' begins almost immediately. Are these established
relationships fixed or are they variable? Does love need redefinition
every so often? Just what is love? The playwright explores a variety of
love options in this 90-minute laugh riot. Six populates his
story with a few lawyers: a divorce attorney, a corporate type, a
contract specialist, and one that doesn't practice. Yes, you already
know there is trouble in River City. The others include a song-writing
cop, a singing investigator who works for Richard, a fairly well know
actor, and, last, a very, very angry cellist. Some of the
characters have a separate history together, such as being previously
married to the host and hostess. Other characters have, shall we say,
roving eyes. Some may just be interested in gender bending. There
appear to be no rules. However, by virtue of the fact of no rules,
rules seem to develop. Now don't get confused, this is all about love. The
joy is the script. Six likes to scare people with those commitment
words like the D, C, and H words (dog, children, and honesty). One of
his characters refers to sex as taking off your clothes and bumping
into each other. He also gets into quasi and real legal terms:
pre-nuptials, post-nuptials, and, my favorite, preemptive divorce. Love Negotiated
is a delightful play on words about the infinite permutations of love.
Veronica and Richard are the stabilizing factor throughout the
play...if by stabilizing one means fighting, bickering, screaming, and,
eventually, making up. The cast moves from ensemble to duo and solo
performances easily. Excellent portrayals by all, with their speeches
just right. The pauses are perfectly timed, and the overlapping
dialogue plays well. Director Sullivan moves her ever changing couples
about the set, defining who is with whom as they ready for their
moments of discovery. These moments are well defined by lighting
director Marie Miller, who solo-spots each couple. In sum, Love Negotiated
should be required viewing for anybody contemplating cohabitation
and/or marriage. It's also an excellent 90 minutes for marrieds. They
can have moments of revelation as well as moments to laugh at their own
history. 
playwright Kevin Six 
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