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How I Fell In Love

Reviewed by Vanessa Cate

Collaborative Artists Ensemble

Through Nov. 16

Joel Fields’s play, directed by Steve Jarrard, is a low-energy homage to the great Annie Hall, except it’s set in Los Angeles and revolves around two characters who, in this production, have no chemistry.

Nessa (Meg Wallace) is an insatiably neurotic M.D. almost unable to exist in social settings, and totally hung up on her married co-worker Eric (Kenny Leu). Meanwhile, Todd (Austin Iredale) is “that guy” we all know – tall, gangly, and sweet but fairly awkward and unsuccessful in love. He seems to fall for girls constantly and inexplicably out of reach (Desiré Noël). Both at their wits end, they decide on the same day at the same time to seek out a therapist.

This should be no surprise to the audience, which has been serving as their therapist all along. The play is comprised largely of monologues, where the two main characters confide in us. This makes for an intimate and personal experience when the actors connect to us. But half the time, these confessions are presentational chats to no one in particular. And in many of their scenes, the actors are usually seated or sitting on the ground, driving the energy to the floor.

The two main characters should be artistic vessels by which we can shout internally, “That’s me!” But Nessa is really off her rocker, only coming off as normal by association with Todd, who is likewise only “quirky” by association with Nessa. The two create a confused duo who seem to love each other out of necessity more than attraction.

Love is a complex and beautiful human truth. It is the subject which artists and playwrights have been drawn to for all time. The show quotes a poem by D.H. Lawrence : “We’ve made a great mess of love since we made an ideal of it.” Then the show interjects, “Maybe it is a mess. But we can be a mess together.”

This show, too, is in many ways a mess. It often reduces the complexities of love to amusing anecdotes. But it does do the one thing it sets out to do, which is to make you reflect on the nature of love. And it also dares to say that there is hope even through all the heart-ache. Advertised as a “date night” play, How I Fell in Love offers an alternative for young lovers who would rather see romance played out on stage than in an on-screen rom-com. But it also might help those making sense of a break up, or still working on getting over that certain someone.

Collaborative Artists Ensemble at The Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre, 5636 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m., Sun. 7 p.m.; through Nov. 16 (323)860-6569, https://www.plays411.com/inlove