[CREDIT: Cat Laine] From left, Liliane Klein as Frankie and Anthony Goes as Johnny in Gamm's production of 'Frankie and Johnny In The Claire De Lune.'

WARWICK, RI — Sex is easy and love is difficult, the main takeaway for patrons viewing “Frankie and Johnny In The Claire De Lune,” now running at the Gamm Theatre.

In the Warwick production of Terrance McNally’s romantic comedy/ drama, Liliane Klein makes a smashing debut as the hard-bitten cynical Frankie (real name Frances), the waitress living in a cramped apartment in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. Anthony Goes (“Between Riverside and Crazy”) gives a dynamic performance as Johnny, a short order cook and Frankie’s co-worker. Johnny is impulsive and talks constantly.

After engaging in a passionate bit of lovemaking, Johnny proclaims his love for Frankie. He also stuns her when he says he wants to get married and have children.

Frankie isn’t ready to make a commitment, telling Johnny she barely knows anything about him. Why is he in such a rush?

The lovers spend the rest of the night getting to know each other. Johnny likes classical music and quoting Shakespeare. Frankie dreams of being a teacher. They both experienced deep pain in their childhoods which has impacted them in their adult lives.

Goes and Klein have a sizzling chemistry as Frankie and Johnny share their fears and their frustrations. These actors are on stage constantly for two hours and play off of each other with passion and conviction.

Rachel Walshe’s direction is focused and Jessica Hill Kidd’s set design is richly detailed. The apartment seems barely large enough for two people to breathe in. There’s a bedroom and kitchen. A single window allows just enough light in. It’s very unpretentious but cozy. There’s a real intensity present in these characters. Frankie and Johnny go from love to hate back to love.

McNally’s dialogue is quite frank in its depiction of sexuality and certain sexual acts. The play has an intimacy which is raw and immediate. Goes shows off a muscular body and parades around in briefs for much of the time. Klein is also scantily clad in many scenes. The actors don’t hold back from expressing Frankie and Johnny’s lust, their desperation, and their insecurities.

“What people see in each other is a mystery,” Johnny says.

[CREDIT: Cat Laine] From left, Liliane Klein as Frankie and Anthony Goes as Johnny discuss their long-term compatibility after a passionate date in Gamm's production of 'Frankie and Johnny In The Claire De Lune.' — [CREDIT: Cat Laine] From left, Liliane Klein as Frankie and Anthony Goes as Johnny discuss their long-term compatibility after a passionate date in Gamm’s production of ‘Frankie and Johnny In The Claire De Lune.’

The script poses many questions about how far one would be willing to go to form a connection with another human being. Johnny speaks from a place of deep sadness. He is terrified of spending the rest of his life alone. Frankie is fearful of living up to Johnny’s expectations. He makes it clear that he really loves her. Frankie uses sarcasm to hide her vulnerabilities.

“Frankie and Johnny In The Clair De Lune” is alternately romantic, poignant, and darkly humorous. We find ourselves rooting for this couple and hoping they will find a way to make it work.

I suspect many couples will be pondering their own relationships on the way home from the theater.

Frankie and Johnny In The Clair De Lune runs through Nov. 30. The Gamm Theatre, 1245 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI. Run time is 2 hours with an intermissions. For tickets, call 401-723-4266 or visit gammtheatre.org.

Author: Joe Siegel

Joe Siegel is a regular contributing writer for WarwickPost.com. His reporting has appeared in The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro and EDGE.

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