Diandra Reviews It All

I had no idea OF ANY statistics to online dating. I did not know that by 2024 70% of the population will find “their one” online, and that 280,000 marriages a year come start on the internet. Although I had a feeling women are more approached then men online, I, again, did not know that for every 17 requests I get a day, a man gets 2 or 3. In essence, #DateMe shows online dating is a daunting, even hopeless world that, actually, can get you “the one.”

Based on a true story/ experiment, Kaitlyn Black plays Robyn Lynne Norris; a young, stand-up comedienne that decides to create 38 online profiles for “fun.” Kaitlyn makes Robyn a smart, steady guide through the madness of online dated. Moreover, she is relatable as it is quickly revealed that Robyn’s attempt to be “fun” and “funny” veils her fear of connection. “Are we lovable?” is a sincere, looping doubt that replays in every person’s head as they try to find their person. Yet, we deny it, and, especially, do not put it on our dating profile. Well, Robyn does, at least, once. The result comes off the same; someone asks her to “f**k.”

With the real online names and comments Robyn, herself, faced splashing across the set, designed by David L. Arsenault, you are laughingly alarmed by the creepers on the Internet. Yes, women are more approached, but that means they face more world wide web sociopaths. Most of the men approaching Robyn do not want to know her as much as “sex her up.” On a genuine note, it is terrifying. Everything is so explicitly sexual and insulting that you do not feel bad at how many men Robyn rejects. It is, literally, for her safety. Yet, this is a show about how Robyn found love amongst the many loathsome men hiding behind screens.

While the two hours breeze by, director Lorin Latarro assures hope is crushed and revived a million times as you see that the web has become an inevitable factor in EVERYONE’s love life. From social media to apps, you and your potential lover will connect through a .com. Yet, #DateMe reveals that the online world simply heightens what we must face in the real one. Women can be very disrespected and challenged in power as they define who they want to let into their heart, of which we see Robyn’s heart grow enough to let a great man enter it. As the musical relies a lot on improv each actor proves they are instantly bright and make Robyn’s journey feel fresh and relevant.

Chris Alvarado, Jonathan Gregg, Eric Lockly, Megan Sikora, and Liz Wisan are exceptional. Viewers will be incredibly impressed at their ability to become a new character every two minutes and whip up a new song about an audience member’s horrible date within one. This music is very interactive, and you will feel like you know your fellow viewer as much as the actors by it’s end. Yet, when it comes to dating, I welcome an open, uniting, and humorous approach t how crazy dating in 2019 can be. Thus, to learn and laugh #DateMe: An OkCupid Experiment plays till September 8 at the Westside Theatre on 407 W 43rd St. Click Are To Buy Tickets.