Nelson
Written by Sam Marks
Directed by Kip Fagan
Kirk Theater
410 W 42nd Street
212-279-4200

Review by Christina Polizoto

Partial Comfort’s Nelson is a dreary, sometimes aimless, but wonderfully executed take on authenticity and obsession. Nelson (Frank Harts) is a lowly assistant at a talent agency, the kind of guy you might describe as a little “off.” He’s torn between his job, complete with a soulless boss (Alexander Alioto), and his neighborhood ties, which are characterized by his trouble-courting friend. At work, Nelson obsesses over a C-List actress represented by the agency, while dodging his boss’ racial and personal barbs. At home, his friend Charlie (Samuel Ray Gates) gets Nelson involved in the filming of a violent video series for a notorious gang figure.

Nelson’s two worlds collide as the videos, which feature brutal beatings and other witness-intimidating fare, gain notoriety. Things go from bad to worse for Nelson when his sleazy boss Joe finds one of the infamous videos in his possession. Simultaneously we witness Nelson’s obsession with the third-rate supporting actress, as he stalks and fixates his way to full-fledged creepiness. We also become aware of a secret in his closet, addressed only in Nelson’s monologues to an open door.

The performances are reason enough to enjoy Nelson, despite Sam Marks’ somewhat disappointing attempt at an interesting concept. Frank Harts is captivating as Nelson, playing the awkward and desperate assistant perfectly. Harts shines brightest at Nelson’s most unstable moments, when he goes from zero to sixty with jarring and successful effect. Alexander Alioto as Joe brings the bulk of Nelson’s dark humor to life, neurotically driving the protagonist to even greater levels of instability. Samuel Ray Gates as Charlie completes the three-person show, skillfully injecting the same dark comedy into Nelson’s home life. Nelson shines through excellent performances, and suffers from a lack of getting to the not-so-cliché point. At its end we can’t help wishing we’d seen these actors in a better play.