THE HANGOVER REPORT – Candace Bushnell’s savvy IS THERE STILL SEX IN THE CITY? connects the juicy dots between fact and fiction

Candace Bushnell in “Is There Still Sex in the City?” at the Daryl Roth Theatre (photo by Joan Marcus).

There’s no doubt it, Sex and the City – the 1996 book and especially the television series it spawned – has influenced a generation of women (and gays) in how to lead their adult lives. Now creator Candace Bushnell, whose life is the basis of Carrie Bradshaw and her New York adventures (alongside her besties Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha), has decided to peel back the layers and give a first hand account – onstage – of her own fascinating life as a (mostly) liberated woman, all the while drawing parallels to her iconic work.

The resultant one-woman show is entitled Is There Still Sex in the City?, which you can currently catch Off-Broadway at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The solo play – which smartly coincides with the release of the Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That on HBO – unfolds like the work crafted by a literary mind and is neatly structured with an auspicious beginning, an eventful and twisty middle section, and a contented conclusion that basks in the journey’s collective wisdom. In some respects, this predictable trajectory would arguably work better as a breezy read on the beach rather than a night out at the theater. Nevertheless, I had a perfectly pleasant time learning about the woman behind Sex and the City, especially connecting the juicy dots between fact and fiction (no spoilers here!).

As an actress, Ms. Bushnell – looking fabulous at 63 – is an approachable and confiding personality and stage presence. Performed on a lively living room set by scenic designer Anna Louizos (complete with the writer’s actual myriad of shoes), the evening plays out smoothly and enjoyably as directed by Lorin Latarro. Although by no means a theatrical heavyweight, Is There Still Sex in the City? goes down easily and is a savvy way to entice a pre-existing market to indulge in live performance. Indeed, I can think of worse ways to spend 90 minutes, particularly as part of a festive girls night out.

RECOMMENDED

IS THERE STILL SEX IN THE CITY?
Off-Broadway, Play
Daryl Roth Theatre
1 hour, 30 minutes
Through February 6

Categories: Off-Broadway, Theater

Leave a Reply