The Blue Room, by David Hare

Yes, this is the show in which Nicole Kidman appeared nude on Broadway. Now that we’ve gotten that bit of trivia out of the way, let’s consider the play itself, a meditation on couples and coupling. Adapted from Arthur Schnitzler’s classic La Ronde, The Blue Room is structured as a circle of interlocking encounters. Each of the two actors plays five characters, and each character appears in two scenes with characters of the opposite sex, according to the pattern A+B, B+C, C+D, etc. Thus there are 10 scenes total, and each scene contains an internal blackout during which the characters make love–in many cases for the first time, which of course forever alters relations between them. In short, The Blue Room is a complex piece that demands tour de force performances from its actors. Fortunately it’s being produced at the Jungle, where the acting is always the main attraction and where you can usually count on seeing the best actors in town. This production features Kirsten Frantzich, who slew Jungle audiences a year ago in the role of a dog (Sylvia), and Kris L. Nelson, who spent last summer mopping the Guthrie stage with a television star (Once in a Lifetime). Bain Boehlke directs and designs with his customary insight and flair. The Jungle Theater, (612) 822-7063