You might say that Eric Patterson’s new play is all about sex. But you would only be scratching the surface of this well-crafted piece that interweaves the lives, and, yes, sex lives, of everyone in a family, plus one intriguing “escort” who turns out to be much more intuitive than you might think.
The play opens with young Ru (Michael Sturgis) stranded by the side of a country road, waiting for Triple A to rescue him. But we don’t learn what happened to him until the end of the play when all the pieces fit together in a rich tapestry. The next thing we know, we are introduced to Ru’s parents, long-time married Julianne (Tasha Ames) and Mick (James Tupper), who have learned how to accommodate each other for the sake of peace and quiet. Julianne, a part-time masseuse, combines her services with gossipy confessionals, while Mick has a deeper secret: on his ever-more frequent business trips he combines business with, well, pleasure in the form of the well endowed Dylon (Sean Luc Rogers). Luckily for all involved, Dylon feels his mission is to help — anybody. And we see this play out in the interrelationships of all.
The strength of this story lies in the carefully revealed full-bodied lives of each of the characters. Director Chris Fields makes the most of the spare acting space to move us through the cinematic story with a bedroom each for Dylon and Ru, and the forestage (no pun intended) for everyone else, all designed by Amanda Knehans, augmented by Matt Richter’s lighting, while Dianne Graebner’s costumes place the play firmly in the here and now.
Playwright Eric Patterson is well-known for helping other writers with their craft, and it’s easy to see that he has a lot to share. His play is not only well-crafted, but each character is given as much time as necessary to understand their tragectories, their innermost demons and how they are trying to resolve them. This maiden run, however, can use a few tweeks, starting with its unfortunate title. F*king Strangers does get the point across, but it is definitely not about strangers. For me, the play speaks eloquently of how our appetites can complicate our most intimate relationships (and a bit about what to do about it). And, at two hours, it’s a bit longer than our patience. Still, for a revealing visit with a family that might be living right next door, don’t miss this play!
Echo Theatre Company presents F*king Strangers playing Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m., through August 24th, 2026, at Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Las Casitas Ave., Las Angeles, CA 90039. Free Parking available east of the theatre. General admission: $40. For tickets and information call: For more information and to purchase tickets, call (747) 350-8066 or go to EchoTheaterCompany.com.
