Backstage at the Little Theatre production of "Lovers and Other Strangers," female cast members prepped their big Farrah Fawcett coifs while the male actors hung out in their tighty whities and the pre-performance atmosphere hung thick with sexual tension.

While dropping the who’s who on the cutest girls in the theater department or overtly making gestures of sexual positions, the actors all kept themselves busy backstage by flirting and dropping more sexual innuendos than a Ron Jeremy porn set.

“When dealing with the subject matter, and it’s so sexual, it just comes with the territory,” said Kokoa Janae Lawson, 23, who plays Brenda, a sexually liberated woman about to partake in a one night stand in the production’s opening scene. “It’s the way to survive [through the erotic scenes],” she said, later adding, “We are a very sexual cast.”

Last Thursday’s preview night performance had a nearly full house, leaving only a few aisle seats empty during the two-hour long play. The echoing bursts of giggles and the oppositional reactions between female and male audience members signaled that they were engaged with each scene and loving it.

“Fundamentally, there is some kind of power struggle,” said "Lovers" director and professor of theater arts, Rhonnie Washington, of the script. “People talk about [gender] roles and what they don’t want to do. Everyone in relationships have power issues.”
"Lovers and Other Strangers" was written in 1968 by real life couple Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna shortly after the Summer of Love. Through five different relationships, including an extra-marital affair, a young couple about to dive into marriage, and a long-term married couple fighting in their underwear, the comical play takes a provocatively realistic look at love, devotion, obligation and sex.

“These people came from the decade of Free Love,” said Jackie Cuccaro, 20, who plays Beatrice, a worried mother whose son is ending his marriage. “Everyone is trying to make sense of what they spit out and everyone’s trying to rationalize this sexual release.”

As the first scene took to the stage, the unusual differences between Lawson’s character, a beautiful black woman and Pappas' character, a large white man, at first glimpse leaves the audience stooped. The couple’s multi-racial, odd coupling adds a silent commentary on what relationships socially “belong” together, and which ones may be doomed in a prejudicial world.

“[The interracial couples] definitely keeps it current, finding a connection with how, over time, there can still be a strong impact,” said theater major Jason Pedroza, 21, referring to the audience reaction and the ideals of interracial dating.

When Washington decided to use "Lovers" for his spring production, he knew the playful script about intimacy had to push the envelope a little further to keep it original and contemporary.

During one stand-out scene, the crowd roared into laughter at the physical comedy of Thu Tran, 20, and Talia Derry, 20, as Johnny and Wilma, a middle-aged couple fighting in what Derry calls their “skimmies.” While taking cues from Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the couple’s fight over gender roles and sexual satisfaction seemed too familiar with most young audience members.

“Human sexuality is more exposed now, but we have been dealing with the same issues,” said Derry backstage, while covering her tattoo with stage makeup. “Even with how things have evolved, we are still the same.”

During the last scene, two generations of lovers, one a couple ending its marriage from the ambiguous sexuality of character Richie, played by Joshua J. Cook, and his parents who are tied together by obligation. Several people in the audience whispered to each other, searching for answers about Richie and his unspoken sexuality. The scene kept the audience laughing and kept a sense of hope between each character that was lost between obligation and understanding.

“It is much more interesting to let hope live in the scene,” said Cook, 28.

As the audience walked out of the theater, many related their own experiences to the production.

“It’s very realistic,” said Paul Matthews, a computer program manager who came to see family friend Tran. “Watching it reminds me of my own relationships.”

“Lovers and Other Strangers” will be showing March 15 to 17 at 8 p.m. and March 18 at 2 p.m.