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Valentine’s Day, roses, a card and romance fill the air as Tom prepares for a romantic evening at home with his girlfriend of 9 years, Cindy. While Tom is setting up and waiting for Cindy to come home after work, a knock at the door reveals Dusty, Tom and Cindy’s high school friend who has reappeared after a 12-year absence. What starts out as a friendly conversation about catching up and discovering where Dusty has been and what he has seen along the way, turns into a disturbing reunion when Cindy comes home and unexpectedly sees Dusty standing in her living room. It turns out that they were a couple back then. 

 

We can sense there is something wrong, something happened, Cindy is not happy and Tom seems oblivious to all of this. He can’t understand why they all can’t just be friends again, now that Dusty has "come home" and especially with all that Dusty has told him about where he has been. As the evening unfolds, there is much more to learn about these lovers and friends; why Dusty has come back and what happens to people as a result of witnessing war.

Martin Dove scores well in this well-written piece about life, love and war. Nicely directed by Josh Barbour, the actors convincingly portray these characters with flair. Ryan Wesley Gilreath, as Tom, is just nerdy enough to be stepped on and accept whatever happens to him, including Cindy’s non-committal attitude towards him, but needy enough to want everyone to get along, despite

the truth of the past. Kasey Braxton’s Dusty Simmons is the perfect mix of street thug, hero and victim to make us feel sorry for him and what he’s been through, while continually reminding us that he was, and may very well still be, just a street thug. Brandi Wilson as Cindy Blevins aptly conveys that she has some deep rooted emotional issues, not just from Dusty leaving without a word 12 years ago, and the life she is now living because of that decision, but also because of the violence she encountered overseas as a wartime photojournalist. Playwright Martin Dove steps in as Robert, Cindy’s uncle and Chief of Police, mostly as an unseen voice on the phone which was a very nice touch.

Love Me Tinder is being presented by Mike Reardon and Write Paths Studio in association with The Midtown International Theatre Festival, Christina Ventura - Stage Manager, Mike Sheets - Set Design/Lighting, Todd Ackerman - Sound Design, Lisa Taylor - Asst. Stage Mgr/Sound, /Laura VanSickle - Costume Designer and Jon Maldia - Marketing Manager

LOVE ME TINDER is playing a limited engagement at:

The Main Stage Theatre
312 W. 36th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY

Remaining performances are Thu 7/29 at 6pm; Sat. 7/31 at 6pm and Sun 8/01 at 4pm
TICKETS: $18 General, $15 Students & Seniors
RESERVATIONS: (866)811-4111 or www.midtownfestival.org

For complete info about the reviewer, please go to www.thekingofbroadway.com and follow on twitter/tkob

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