“The Engagement Party” is Full of Surprises

A simple celebration, a spilled glass of wine and a missing engagement ring expose dark secrets and resentments in “The Engagement Party,” now playing at The Geffen Playhouse.

Written by Samuel Balm and directed by Darko Tresnjak, this 80-minute tale begins with a small dinner party hosted by newly engaged Park Avenue couple Katherine (Bella Heathcote) and Josh (Jonah Platt). Guests include Conrad (Richard Bekins) and Gail (Wendie Malick), Katherine’s rich WASP parents; Johnny (Brian Patrick Murphy), an old friend from Josh’s poorer past childhood; Harvard friends Alan (Mark Jacobson), a liberal professor at Columbia; and married couple Haley (Lauren Worsham) a medical researcher struggling with postpartum depression and Kai (Brian Lee Huynh) who works under Josh in an investment firm and is bitter about earning much less than Josh.

The evening begins perfectly until wine is spilled and Katherine’s pricey engagement goes missing while being passed around the group. Issues of love, trust and friendship emerge and soon resentments and secrets are exposed.

The set by Alexander Dodge is amazing, including a revolving New York townhouse showcasing a perfectly interior designed living room, kitchen and bedroom where the plot unravels.

There are lots of surprises that surface, the biggest one causing a united gasp from our audience, that reveal the true nature of relationships amongst the group of guests.

“The Engagement Party” runs through November 5 at The Geffen, 10886 Le Conte Avenue, Wednesday – Saturday 8pm, Saturday matinee 3pm, Sundays at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets at 310.208.2028 or at www.geffenplayhouse.org.