On the Scene: ‘Cost of Living’ Debuts at Broadway’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

The Pulitzer-Prize winning play by Martyna Majok is officially on-Broadway for the first time since its release in 2016. The production is directed by Jo Bonney.

It’s taken almost seven years and a successful run off-Broadway and in London, but ‘Cost of Living’ has finally arrived to the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre with a remarkable debut. 

The play follows the lives of two couples and the inner-working struggles of able-bodied and disabled people. 

Eddie (David Zayas) is a middle-aged out-of-work truck driver and recovering alcoholic grieving over the death of his wife Ani (Katy Sullivan). As the show begins with the titular character at a bar promising that there’s only seltzer in his cup, the audience can’t help but laugh and tear up at the sentiments Eddie had for his wife. 

Within the next couple of scenes, we are taken back to prior to her death where we learn Ani was the victim of a car accident that resulted in the loss of both her legs and movement in her arms. Eddie soon becomes her caretaker and the dynamic between the two is interesting to see as there’s resentment, bitterness over indefinitely, but hints of love and belonging. 

John (Gregg Mozgala) is a rich PhD student at Princeton while Jess (Kara Young)  is a graduate of the same institution working multiple jobs. Jess and John exemplify a hierarchy of privilege. While Jess is able-bodied, she struggles to achieve “the American Dream”, but for John, he’s born with an overwhelming amount of money, however he has cerebral palsy. 

The two try to understand each other more throughout the play even though they’re a bit stubborn. A relationship with romantic undertones soon forms, but in actuality, both Jess and the audience find out there were no genuine feelings there, a discovery that made me want to yell from my seat.

In all, the set design was remarkable. From an actual shower that dispenses water to a bar shelf with Christmas lights that cascades down the stage to a rotating platform of mini sets, the complete staging framed the story. The performances and chemistry between the cast is brilliant even when certain characters only share one scene. Majok writes dialogue with a great amount of empathy and understanding for her characters. You can’t hate them for having flaws. 

I would say the ending came so abruptly I sat in my seat wanting to know what happened next. Two beautiful love stories suddenly came crashing down. But, then I realized another relationship forms and for these characters that’s enough. They’ve experienced what it means to learn about life from the perspective of someone else. It’s now their turn to take that experience to the next life that intersects with theirs

‘Cost of Living’ perfectly describes this play. 

Tickets for ‘Cost of Living’ are now available online. The show runs for 1 hour and 50 minutes with no intermission.