‘Lips Together, Teeth Apart’ strongly captures time and place

While It’s Only a Play is breaking box-office records on Broadway — a textbook example of starry headliners trumping mediocre material — you may want to check out author Terrence ­McNally’s drama Lips ­Together, Teeth Apart. The revival that just opened at Second Stage has its problems, but at least it’s actually a play. The show premiered in 1991 and now feels like a time capsule. Set a year earlier in the Fire Island Pines, Lips Together tackles mortality and marital discomfort through the eyes of two (straight) couples. It didn’t hurt that the now-legendary original cast included Nathan Lane, Christine Baranski and Swoosie Kurtz. The new troupe could well end up with similarly rich careers — they’re all excellent actors, even if some are miscast in Peter DuBois’ otherwise elegant revival. Michael Chernus and Tracee Chimo have gone from playing lovers on Orange Is the New Black to siblings Sam and Chloe in this show.