Steve Martin, playwright. Amy Schumer and Keegan-Michael Key, Broadway debuts. Comedy, yes. Laugh out loud moments, yes. Underdeveloped play, definitely yes.
The setting is Ojai, California in 1993 where the meteor shower of the title is scheduled to occur that evening. Corky (Schumer) and Norm (Jeremy Shamos, perfectly porous) are a California married couple about to host another couple for an evening of meteor gazing and banter. First, they have some pre-wine (doesn’t count!) which sets the tone for them and for the audience. We quickly learn that they are stereotypical Californians aggressively in touch with their feelings. Who is coming over? Gerald (Key) and Laura (Laura Benanti). What follows is broad comedic hijinks, much of it very funny.
Everyone in the cast gets their moment to shine and make us laugh. The role of Corky is a perfect fit for Ms. Schumer, who admirably does not break character during her meteor shower viewing scene with Laura. The always excellent Ms. Benanti (Gypsy, She Loves Me) is sexy, devilish and hilarious. Mr. Key’s performance is assured, confident and very big which I think is needed to keep this farce a little off-balance.
Advertised as a one act, 90 minute play, Meteor Shower barely clocks in at 1:15. As a result, there is a sketchiness to all of this inspired lunacy rather than a fully realized piece. Minor example: there is a brief, funny drug scene that goes nowhere. Like the astronomical phenomena itself, Meteor Shower is a starry, bright, fun diversion but it’s over in a flash.