Love/Sick

by John Cariani

Sometimes love is messy in this romantic comedy where a unique cast of characters battle for love with heart-warming optimism. A darker cousin to "Almost, Maine", John Cariani's "Love/Sick" is a collection of nine slightly twisted and completely hilarious short plays. Set on a Friday night in an alternate suburban reality, this 80-minute romp explores the pain and the joy that comes with being in love. Full of imperfect lovers and dreamers, from a couple that’s obsessively impulsive, to a bride with literally cold feet, to a man who had a very… exciting lunch, to the couple who forgot to have a baby, "Love/Sick" is an unromantic comedy for the romantic in everyone.

"Love/Sick" received its world premiere production in 2013 at Portland Stage Company in Portland, Maine.

Genres: Plays

84 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

John Edward Cariani is an American actor and playwright. Cariani is best known as the unwavering forensic expert Julian Beck in Law & Order. On stage, he earned a Tony Award nomination for his role as Motel the Tailor in the 2004 Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof. As a playwright, he is best known for his first play, Almost, Maine, which has become one of the most frequently produced plays in the United States. He starred on Broadway in the Tony Award winning musicals Something Rotten! and The Band's Visit.

Reviews

[Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooooo i did a thing😋😋😋😋😋😋

[Cate · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t think anything could be worse than Almost, Maine but here we are

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couple sweet moments & scenes, but trying to repeat the structure and style that was so charming in Almost, Maine to the point it feels forced. Scenes rely on marriage troupes rather than rich personalities, making it less compelling for both production and class scene work.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Closer to 1.5 stars. It never reaches the level where you want to throw down a play and start ripping it apart so one less person can read it but it's just not very good. It's similar to Almost, Maine where there are short scenes about love (nine in all) but as it is described on the back "slightly twisted and completely hilarious."

It's not hilarious. It sucks. John is trying way too hard to have the characters sound natural with the amount of > and // he throws into the dialogue where the characters yell a lot and sometimes make out a lot.

I like John Cariani a lot. I love Last Gas and I think he's a talented actor but Love/Sick is a dud.

[Cheryl Ann Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read Almost, Maine and Last Gas. This is my favorite play. I would love to bring thus play to life, as either director or actor.

[Tiffany Day · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light on laughs - quirky, but doesn't read as cute... hopefully, I'll like it better when performed

[Amandanoel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just was not for me. a little too cynical for my current tastes.

[Dann LaGratta · Rating 1 out of 5]

The best part of this play is that it’ll cure any would-be playwright of imposter syndrome.

[Mitchell Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED it. So weird and relatable and funny and deep and emotional and irreverent. All the things I like in a play!

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Lots of duet scenes for scene practice