“The Qualms” (Steppenwolf Theatre): Debauchery at its Finest

Playwright Bruce Norris exposes the secret life of swingers. He rips off the lid on sexual taboos and lets the condoms reign. Norris sets the scene with Teri (played by Kate Arrington) and Gary (played by Keith Kupferer) hosting their quarterly sex party. They have invited newcomers Chris (played by Greg Stuhr) and Kristy (played by Diane Davis) to experience the fun. A zealot Kupferer is pontificating about basic human urges. The wonderfully dizzy Arrington tries to derail his tirade with frequent odd musings. It’s hilarious. The tightly wound Stuhr gets more uptight the closer he gets to foreplay. Norris has created eight distinct characters and put them under the same roof for sex. Under Pam MacKinnon skillful direction, we are dropped into the members only kinky clubhouse. The conversations overlap. Flirtations turn to fondling. There is no getting in the mood. The revelers arrive completely aroused. The vivacious Kirsten Fitzgerald (Deb) bursts into the house with a suitcase of party favors. This established group has a normalcy of routine. Stuhr upsets the balance by bringing judgment into their erogenous zone.