Switch Partners and Dance

F**king Men – Pride Films and Plays 

 

It may surprise the avid theatergoer to learn that Joe DiPietro, the award-winning playwright of “Memphis” and “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” who’s penned such diverse plays and musicals as “The Toxic Avenger,” “All Shook Up” and “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” would come up with this unusual play about sexual encounters. It’s been called “a comedy of gay sexual manners,” and it reimagines “La Ronde,” Arthur Schnitzler’s provocative and controversial 1897 play of erotic encounters, both male and female, as taking place within today’s LGBT community. The result is a fearless and somewhat poetic celebration of sexuality that will certainly entertain and titillate gay audiences.

The play is rather unique in its structure. It features ten actors, each portraying a different character who meet in ten, two-person scenes, for the purpose of a proposed sexual encounter. Then, one character from each scene reappears, with a new partner, in the following scene, until we arrive back to the beginning with the remaining character from the first scene. It’s like a stylized, sexual version of Change Partners and Dance. And, in another poetic element of this play, DiPietro opens each scene with one of the characters delivering a line or short monologue in isolation, the words of which will be echoed later in the next playlet. 

The characters are men from different backgrounds and of various generations, although in this production the actors all appear to be around the same age. They include an eager hustler, a closeted soldier, a married couple in an open relationship, a hunky porn star, a horny college student, a teacher, a playwright, a film actor and a journalist. Their trysts occur everywhere, from a broom closet to a four-star hotel room. While at first they appear to be merely stereotypes, these characters turn out to be layered individuals, each with his own, individual story to convey. Without exception, every man in this play wants something  more than just sex. Each man seeks to truly connect with someone.

From the title, audiences may come to the theatre expecting an evening of soft core pornography. While there are moments of tasteful nudity, and the show is filled with frank language and adult situations, the sexual acts are handled in a fresh manner. Multi Jeff Award-winning director David Zak, who skillfully stages his production on the same set as Circle Theatre’s “The View Upstairs,” has employed the talents of four Chicago choreographers. Their task is to create movement to Isaac Mandel’s jazzy sound design that sensuously simulates gay intercourse. The results are varied, but the choreography created by Jake Ganzer, Daniel Hurst, James William Mueller and Katelyn Stoss certainly adds a welcome, new dimension to this play.

 The ten-member company also varies in talent, although each gives his all to this production. Standouts in this cast include handsome Matt Frye, making his PFP debut as Leo, a seasoned tutor who finds himself attracted to Kyle, the young, good-looking college student he’s tutoring. Kyle’s played with sensual eagerness by Connor McGarry. The teacher’s conflicted by his wanting to remain faithful to husband, Jack, who’s played with dignity and enthusiasm by Jay Espano. Nick Schrier, a welcome newcomer to PFP, gives strength and integrity to his portrayal of television journalist, Donald. Attractive and athletic performer Roy Samra is exciting as Ryan, the gay porn star; and comely Whitman Johnson, who gave an exceptional performance in Pride’s recent production of “His Greatness,” is once again commanding here as John, the Hustler.

David Zak’s production of Tony-winning playwright, Joe DiPietro’s well-written gay version of “La Ronde,” is respectable and thought-provoking. Kudos to this production for being more artistic than most previous presentations of this play, by incorporating choreographed interludes that link together the playlets and depict the sexual scenes. While Zak’s cast varies in talent, his production offers several strong portrayals and many gut-wrenching, sometimes humorous, scenes. As part of Pride Films & Plays’ PAC Pride Fest, this production may ultimately stand out as one of the most popular of the quintet.

Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas  

 

Presented weekends, July 1-August 25, by Pride Films & Plays at The Broadway, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling 866-811-4111 or 773-857-0222 or by going to www.pridefilmsandplays.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.