Review: Meteor Shower

Meteor Shower, the surreal comedy written by Steve Martin, recently debuted at American Stage in downtown St. Pete. The grossly entertaining play is very Martin-esque, though much more in the vein of The Jerk, or his early stand-up, than Father of the Bride, or Cheaper by the Dozen.

Corky and Norm are a married couple entrenched so deeply in their counseling that they regularly break into therapy-speak to accuse and acknowledge each other over the slightest possible relationship infraction. On the evening of a historic meteor shower, they are joined for a viewing by Gerald and Laura, a couple whose relationship dynamics are seemingly diametrically opposed to their own.

Martin explores the notion that too much repression of our instincts and urges can lead to the latter taking the wheel, or, as Corky warns, “If you don’t deal with your subconscious, it will deal with you.” The story unfolds in a disjointed manner, with scenes playing out over and over in different ways, each bringing more hilarity than the last.

American Stage has assembled an impressive cast, including the return of veteran television and movie actresses Cynthia Beckert (Indecent, 2023) and Darilyn Castillo (The Good Peaches, 2025) as Corky and Laura, each delivering a stellar performance. Veteran stage actor Michael Gregory does a fine job as Norm in his American Stage debut, and local actor/director Dylan Barlowe is downright fantastic as the bombastic blowhard Gerald.

Alexander Whittenberg's set—a modern, hillside home in Ojai, CA—is one of the more impressive in recent memory, while Macy Smith has put together costumes that perfectly express the characters who wear them.

At a drum-tight 75 minutes, without an intermission, Meteor Shower is an absurdly comical exploration of love and long-term partnership that makes for a perfect date night and is sure to spark some good conversation over a post-theater glass of wine (I'd recommend a nearby favorite, Wine Cave & The Dutchman).

Directed by Anthony Gervais, Meteor Shower runs through Nov. 22. Visit the American Stage website for schedule and ticket information.

Photo by Chaz D Photography