'Table 17' review — a nostalgic rom-com for modern audiences
Read our review of Table 17 off Broadway, a world-premiere play by Douglas Lyons at MCC Theater starring Kara Young, Biko Eisen-Martin, and Michael Rishawn.
A nostalgia for the age of 1990s/early-2000s romantic comedies has been cropping up everywhere lately, but short of rewatching classic films over and over again, there aren’t many ways to scratch that itch anymore. Enter Table 17, a play inspired by the “luscious portrayals of Black love” that playwright Douglas Lyons remembers from his childhood. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, they are beautifully messy and complicated, and they have a happy ending. Or at least, we hope they do.
Though they don’t realize it, Jada and Dallas are living out an exes-to-lovers trope — they used to date, and now they don’t. Is the spark still there? That’s what they’ve come to this restaurant to figure out.
Jada, written to evoke Nia Long and Sanaa Lathan, is played by the luminous Tony Award-winning Kara Young. Her Jada is overflowing with both fierceness and insecurity, and she's never afraid to speak her mind. Dallas, written as a Taye Diggs/Will Smith type, is played by Biko Eisen-Martin with a boyish charm anyone could get lost in. And Michael Rishawn must be applauded for embodying two of the characters necessary in any self-respecting rom-com about exes: the heart-stealing heartthrob Eric and the comedic tension breaker River, the couple’s hilariously nosy and opinionated waiter.
These three actors have so much individual talent and group chemistry that it would have been an entertaining 90 minutes if they had been reading the phone book. But with Table 17, the honesty and the wittiness of the writing hook you immediately if the actors’ dynamism hadn't already. The excellent costume design (Devario D. Simmons) allows the characters to transition seamlessly between the present day to flashbacks in a club, on a plane, or at a Knicks game. Director Zhailon Livingston’s vision ensures the characters always feel three-dimensional, sometimes literally as they dance among the audience members seated at the other “tables.” The meet-cute, the proposal, the escalating fights - there’s something magical about getting lost in the formulaic.
Table 17 summary
Table 17 is a homage to Black romantic comedies. Set in Atlanta, the story follows estranged ex-fiancés Jada and Dallas, who meet up for dinner after years of no contact. They’re both appropriately excited and nervous, hopeful and terrified, and they share their inner monologues and emotional reactions with the audience. As they feel out each others’ motives and desires, they fall back into an old rhythm, peppered by flashbacks of their life together, and they must decide - can they overcome what split them up, or are they destined to lead separate lives despite their lingering love for each other?
What to expect at Table 17
Once you get your ticket scanned, you’ll be greeted right before the theatre doors by a hallway full of movie posters - all Black-led romantic comedies, including Brown Sugar, Love & Basketball, and Poetic Justice. There’s also a note from playwright Douglas Lyons, explaining the influence that this wave of Black rom-coms had on his childhood.
The set itself is something else: dim, seductive lighting, an enormous disco ball glittering overhead, and a floor full of tables. Many seats offer a semi-immersive experience, serving as other tables in the restaurant where the play is set. These blurred lines between audience and stage are intentional - Lyons tells us, in the “menu” that comes with the program, that the restaurant is meant to be lively and interactive. The characters talk to the audience and ask for advice, encouraging ongoing participation that gets us invested.
What audiences are saying about Table 17
Audiences have been raving about Table 17 on Show-Score, noting its lightness and joyfulness as well as its quick-witted writing. The energetic cast, particularly Kara Young, have gotten frequent shout-outs.
- “Everything. Such delicious performances and a very funny, enchanting show.” - Show-Score user RinTinTin123
- “See it if you want to see how a romantic comedy should be done. The writing and acting elevate this genre into something special and fun.” - Show-Score user dianefe
- “Great acting, especially the wonderful Kara Young in her sexiest role yet. A funny story very well written and directed.” - Show-Score user Member 325ef177
Who should see Table 17
- Anyone who has been following the rising star of Kara Young should see this show for the chance to fall in love with her as the heroine of a romantic comedy.
- Lyons’s love of classic Black rom-coms is evident throughout the script, and rom-com fans will be delighted with this playful, tender story.
- Fans of lightly immersive theatre will enjoy the chance to be part of Jada and Dallas’s story in a more intimate way than sitting in the audience (though traditional seating is also available).
Learn more about Table 17 off Broadway
Sweet, smooth, and laugh-out-loud funny, Table 17 and its unbelievably magnetic cast will sweep you off your feet.
Photo credit: Table 17 off Broadway. (Photos by Daniel J Vasquez)
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