Theater Review: ‘The Money Shot’ Is Hilarious Fun In Southampton

Porn aficionados will immediately know that any piece of theater called “The Money Shot”* is going to be played for raunchy laughs, and Neil LaBute’s wickedly amusing, outrageously non-PC comedy at the Southampton Cultural Center does not disappoint.

The objects of Mr. LaBute’s mocking pen are vacuous Hollywood types, probably the only group left that one can skewer today without fear of denunciation, and here he delightfully roasts them to char.

Two not-quite-over-the-hill actors are looking for one big hit to revive their sagging careers, and their arty Belgium director wants to have the sex scene in their upcoming film live and raw, no simulado, as you might hear advertised at a sex show in Rio. With their partners—one lesbian, one bimbo—they gather for dinner at the Hollywood Hills million-dollar manse of the once-glam leading lady to discuss which Kama Sutra suggestions are a go, and which are a no-go. Add copious amount of Grey Goose.

Right there you had me at “hello.”

The script, however, takes off running from there and pummels each of the Hollywood archetypes brilliantly. It’s nearly impossible to decide who comes off worse—Karen (Bonnie Grice), the no-longer femme fatale, or Steve (Joseph Marshall), the truly stupid, aging action hero.

Ms. Grice, the beloved voice of the East End’s own public radio station, WPPB, is rather a gas as she turns nearly every subject and line into something that reflects back to her, whether it’s a product she has endorsed, a restaurant she owns, a food blog she writes, a tweet she forgot to send, or a charity she’s sponsored. In that category, her “Aqua for Africa” is her favorite. She proudly states she wants “to leave an entertainment and retail legacy behind.” Watch “Entertainment Tonight” for two days and you’ll recognize all of the above.

Steve—in Mr. Marshall’s energetic, engaging performance—probably does come off worse, because he can’t even correctly pronounce Belgium (he goes for three syllables), and argues that it’s not in Europe but the European Union instead—after he looks it up on his smartphone. He’s worried about his skin tone (thus he uses only SPF 70), what it says about him on Wikipedia (especially his age), keeping his tall, leggy 24-year-old wife of one year forever thin—but he is absolutely sure that at least two kids are his own. The proof is in the DNA.

His shallow-but-stunning wife, Missy (Tamara Salkin), is hysterical when she reenacts her big scene from her high school play, Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.” At this point the satire melds into farce as Ms. Salkin mixes up Miller’s witch trial with her cheerleading effervescence. She indeed has legs-up-to-there and a body to match, and she prances through the scene with the naive giddiness it demands.

Bev (Kristin Whiting) as a wry-witted lesbian lover is the only one spared total idiocy in the writing as she spars with both her partner and Steve. Ultimately, she and Steve get physical with each other, but there’s no double entendre in this review intended. In the end, Bev and Missy happily get the better of the other two.

The comedy does point toward a commentary about the relationships of the two couples, but don’t think for a moment Mr. LaBute is aiming for anything serious or to make a Big Statement. He’s always going for the wit and he seldom misses. Many, if not most, of the jokes cannot be repeated in a family newspaper. Adoption, lesbians having babies, and the multiple fruits of David Crosby’s sperm are all scrutinized. Mr. LaBute must have had as much fun writing this piece of biting froth as we have watching it.

Some critics have dismissed the play as too silly to be among Mr. LaBute’s best, but irreverent humor should not be quickly dismissed. Shakespeare’s most beloved and done plays are his comedies. Noel Coward’s work initially was put down as thin, but his plays have lasted as more serious works of the era faded from memory. Mr. Coward’s response: “Having been denied critical acclaim, I had to console myself with the bitter fruit of commercial success.”

Director Joan M. Lyons is always a bright personality to watch when she herself is on stage at the cultural center. In her solo directorial debut here, she infused a spirited zippiness into the production. The taped music is fun, the set evocative of a luxe modern living room in Tinsel Town, and the actors are up to the writing.

“The Money Shot” is a blast. It’s January. Darkness comes early. Who doesn’t need a laugh?

*For the X-rated explanation of “the money shot” in lower case, consult Wikipedia.

“The Money Shot” will continue at Southampton Cultural Center, 25 Pond Lane, Southampton Village, through February 5. Showtimes are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 for general admission and $12 for students under 21 with ID. To purchase, call 631-287-4377 or visit scc-arts.org. The show is not recommended for children under 17.