REVIEW: Dodi & Diana (Mosaic Theatre)
Does it feel like it’s been a while since we’ve had a lurid two-hander about a struggling heterosexual relationship?
It feels like this is a popular genre to host in DC theatre these days, but I seldom find them written with enough heft that the relationship feels compelling or worth the effort being acted out. The latest to hit the scene, Mosaic’s Dodi & Diana, takes this even further by folding in the pseudo-mysticism of astrology and the magnanimity of Princess Diana. But even with all this glam, the shortcomings of its genre are inescapable; and in this instance, borderline offensive.
Book
Kareem Fahmy’s book starts off horny and tense. We don’t know much about these characters, financier Jason and actress Samira, but they’re in Paris and dressed to the nines for a night on the town. This is all an act of sorts: the food comes via room service, there’s no bar to go to, the window curtains are even closed. In fact, they can’t leave at all. Their astrologer Vincent, in an effort to strengthen this relationship, sentenced them to a romantic imprisonment at the Ritz in Paris over the anniversary weekend of Princess Diana’s death. You see, the four (including Dodi Fayed, Diana’s beaux at the time) are “astrological matches”, and the idea is that some sort of divine convergence is due to occur on the exact anniversary as the main duo occupy this space in Paris. Distractions persist abound: phone calls, an ecstatic bellhop fanboy, you name it. But them most distracting thing is just how acidic the relationship is, and the asinine directions the writing takes it. There are romantic metaphors that are never fulfilled, creating an uncomfortable situation of queerbaiting. Jason is childish and ignorant, avoidant of communication and harboring a deep secret that is tantalizingly dangled in front of the viewer for most of its 90-minute runtime. Meanwhile, Samira at least attempts to be sympathetic via her racial discrimination and casting woes. (The former being terribly under-explored.) By the time the relationship blows up, as they always do, the secrets that are revealed are done so comedically and in such poor taste that it elicits audible guffaws from the audience. Around this point the thread of reality splits: time skips, role plays, and cosmic switcharoos muddle any sense of storytelling that was left. What could have been a twinkly romantic drama devolves to something tacky and brittle. 2/10
Acting
Dina Soltan and Jake Loewenthal are nothing if not committed to their comparatively flat characters. Their chemistry is solid, too, bringing a believably steamy romance to distract from the other fluff orbiting around the script. 7/10
Production
The elaborately detailed space by Shartoya R. Jn. Baptiste is satiny and strewn, and director Reg Douglas does good at bringing the audience’s attention to several tucked-away corners of it. Later on, Sage Green’s lighting impresses with several bouts of supernatural goodness. 7/10
Viz
The sultry silk of the curtain just barely obscures a luxe hotel bedroom upon entry. It’s a great way of inviting visual exploration of the space; what’s on the bed? What’s at the table? There’s some excellent late-90s Eurodance playing overhead, too; way to set the scene. The lush, crimson key art is a classic indication of lust. It’s definitely a vibe well-matched. 9/10
Verdict
Dodi & Diana is a smooth-talking 90-minute rom-dram, but the stop-and-go dialogue and tacky twists obfuscate a stylish environment. 25/40
