How can you resist the snarky title? As it happens, “Nobody Loves You,” American Conservatory Theater’s latest mainstage production, refers to the play’s central conceit: a TV reality dating show in which contestants are consecutively fired until only a few survivors remain.
Although the musical comedy is by Itamar Moses (book and lyrics) and Gaby Alter (music and lyrics), friends from their Berkeley High School days, and has been staged elsewhere for more than a decade, it finally arrives here, its inherent promises of wit and Itasatire entirely fulfilled.
It’s truly a testament to the magic of a great collaboration between creators.
Jeff (A.J. Holmes as a shambling, likeable egghead) scoffs at the cookie-cutter reality show to which his sweetheart (Ashley D. Kelley, who aces two roles) is addicted. A philosophy grad student, Jeff is upset when the girlfriend leaves him to audition for the show. She believes she’ll be matched up with someone with whom she’s more compatible.
Determined to follow her to the studio and win her back, Jeff inadvertently ends up as a contestant himself. (It’s not as silly a plot device as it initially seems.)
Once there (but his girlfriend is not), Jeff realizes he’s found the perfect subject for his dissertation: He’ll reveal, from the inside, the soul-destroying manipulations of reality dating shows. “There’s so much to hate!” he sings joyfully.
He doesn’t bargain for the complexities involved. Nor do we, the audience. This is a satire with teeth.
It’s a production that dazzles on every level. Colors are saturated, not just the eccentric, patterned costumes of the show contestants by designer Sarita Fellows, but the scenery, too. Walls and panels glow in varying shades of magenta, orange sorbet, raspberry and more. The excellent lighting design is by Russell H. Champa.
The show’s host (an unctuous, velvety-smooth Jason Veasey, a terrific singer) wears suits that shimmer and sparkle. Confetti rains down on the audience.
Fairly early on, two of the chosen contestants (Molly Hager as the blond, seductive Megan and Seth Hanson as Christian, the buttoned-up, devoutly religious virgin) cavort in a hot tub. “Come on in,” croons the alcoholic and extremely horny Megan, and from that point on, the laughs never stop.
Ana Yi Puig as the intense Samantha and John-Michael Lyles as a particularly slow-witted but hyperactive contestant, plus Kuhoo Verma as an ambivalent employee, round out a cast of actors who, under ACT artistic director Pam MacKinnon, go as far as it seems humanly possible to take a character. They’re so inventive, have such perfect comic timing, and are gifted with such witty dialogue; the show just keeps getting funnier.
The songs, accompanied by a live band, and choreography (by Steph Paul), also seem to get funnier as the show continues, with a few more soulful tunes added as Jeff gets increasingly enmeshed in—well, you’ll see.
You might wish the musical were longer than its crisp 100 minutes.
American Conservatory Theater’s “Nobody Loves You” runs through March 30 at ACT’s Toni Rembe Theater, 415 Geary St., San Francisco. Tickets are $25 to $130 at act-sf.org.
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