LOS ANGELES – Divorce and broken friendships were on the menu at the “Dinner with Friends” play on Saturday, April 13, 2024. The humorous drama wrapped up its theatrical run on April 28 at the Zephyr Theater in Los Angeles.
The 2000 Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Donald Margulies, tells the story of two married couples who have been best friends for years and their relationships.
“Dinner with Friends” was produced by Michael Donovan and produced and directed by Peter Allas.
The play begins with Amy Motta as Beth having dinner with their friends Gabe (Jack Esformes) and Karen (Marieh Delfino). Beth mentions to her friends Gabe and Karen that she and Tom (Leith Burke) are getting a divorce.
This news leaves their friends in a shock since they’ve been good friends for a long time. As Beth is crying in their friend’s kitchen the couple are unsure how to talk to her especially Gabe who was left speechless and let his wife do most of the talking.
The scene changes and we see Beth laying down on her bed when Gabe shows up to the house. As they start talking, Tom finds out that Beth told their friends about their decision of divorce. They argue because Tom feels that because Beth told their friends Gabe and Karen first, she has an advantage.
The couple also talked about the type of food Karen and Gabe cooked for dinner and made some jokes that made the crowd laugh.
The couple argues and their fight turns into a sex scene before it ends with the lights off as the crew changes the set for the following scene.
The scene changes and we see Gabe and Karen sitting down in a couch drinking their wine. They began to question the decision of their best friends getting a divorce, they also began to question their bond with each other. Gabe jokingly asked his wife what would she do if he were to be unfaithful to her. They continue to talk about their friends and drink wine.
Tom shows up unexpectedly at their friend’s house to talk about him and Beth filing for divorce. Karen is still upset that his friend would betray his wife. As they were talking Karen decided to leave the men alone and she went to her room. Tom and Gabe began to talk about the reasons why Tom was unfaithful to his wife Beth,
Tom tells his friend that for many years he felt lonely and Beth stopped touching him with any form of affection. To this Gabe was in shock because he felt that his friends looked very happy. Tom tells him that everything was just for the kids and he felt this way for a long time. He said that his new girlfriend actually makes him feel good about him.
Gabe then asks his friend if he wants something to eat. He prepares Tom a plate of food. He finishes his food and tries some dessert. This concludes this scene and the start of intermission.
The crowd clapped at the end of the scene and began to mingle with each other as soon as the lights were on.
The second half of the play starts off at the vineyard a few years back.
Gabe had invited Tom to the vineyard to introduce him to Beth who is Karen’s friend.
Tom and Gabe talk about how beautiful the vineyard is and catch on about being set up with Beth. Gabe and Karen deny the fact that they are trying to set them up.
Suddenly we see Beth walking inside the kitchen and begins to tell Karen of her time at the beach and how much fun she had painting by the beach. As she is saying this Tom looks at Beth with awe.
They introduced themselves and by the looks they fell in love. They talked about the first encounter they had at Gabe’s and Karen’s wedding.
After they continue their conversations following the end of the scene where the actors go outside and watch the beautiful sunset.
Flash forward to the present time, Karen and Beth are having lunch on Karen’s patio. Karen tells Beth that she is starting to look good and Beth begins to tell her that she’s been feeling very happy as she is currently seeing someone.
Karen suggested that she should of taken some time off to herself after the divorce and that she shouldn’t jump into a casual relationship right away.
Beth takes offense and begins to tell her friend that she enjoys her misery and that she needs her friend to be miserable to be able to have a better life. The ladies go back and forth and their friendship begins to start being questioned.
The scene ends and we see Gabe waiting for his friend Tom at the bar. His friend shows up and they began talking about how their lives been since they last seen each other.
Tom tells Gabe that he is feeling very happy and that him and his new girlfriend. Gabe tells Tom that he looks good but at the same Gabe has a face where he feels that he is slowly losing his friend.
Both scenes showcase how their friends moved on past the divorce but at the same time their friendship is falling apart and both Gabe and Karen feel that they’re losing their friends.
The next scene is Karen’s and Gabe’s bedroom and they are discussing their day. They tell each other that their friends Tom and Beth, both look good but that they also fear that they are losing their friends and they will eventually end up divorcing. The scene ends with Gabe and Karen hugging as they both cry.
This play showcases the types of phases people go through in life. Friendships fall apart and so does marriage. It shows a reflection of what all couples go through.
Top Image Caption: (L-R): Jack Esformes as “Gabe,” Marieh Delfino as “Karen,” Leith Burke as “Tom,”
and Amy Motta as “Beth.” Photo credit: Kerttu Karon
My name is Vicky Pineda, I am a multimedia student journalist. I am a student attending California State University Dominguez Hills. I will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in the spring of 2024. I enjoy writing about my community, sports and politics. I love how journalism can tell someone’s unique story. I enjoy reading and spending time with my three cats: Oxcy, Stardust and Ace.