Perez Reviews: The Performers

Like a good porn film, The Performers is fast and furious! The new Broadway comedy, about the world of adult films, has lots of laughs and a great cast, but – like a good porn film – there’s not much else there.
After the show was over, we were left asking: “What was the takeaway?” There isn’t much! It’s just like an extended sitcom. 90 minutes – without an intermission.
While it won’t change your life, The Performers is lots of fun! Plenty of fluff and stuff! Laughs, shirtlessnes, pantslessness, and great performances from a cast that includes Alicia Silverstone and Henry Winkler!
The two standouts, though, were Cheyenne Jackson as the hunky porn star with the heart of gold, Mandrew, and Ari Graynor, who gives a star-making performance and steals the show as Mandrew’s porn star wife. From his great accent to his uber heteroness, Jackson created a fully-fleshed and engaging character that was very different from anything we’ve seen him do before. And Graynor was just splendid; comically brilliant and dramatically vulnerable!
Silverstone and Winkler gave solid performances, and Alicia sparkled when they let her character have more fun – by getting her drunk. Jenni Barber was also effective, but Daniel Breaker was clueless as the reporter. Bad pun intended. He, unfortunately, was the weakest link in the otherwise great cast.