Love is Love

Homos, or Everyone in America –  Pride Films & Plays 

 

Opening Pride Films & Plays’ second full season, nestled in their intimate, North Broadway venue, is New York playwright Jordan Seavey’s autobiographical drama about gay relationships. Actually the story could almost be about any relationship, gay or straight, but its universality is what makes it particularly appealing to all audiences. Although the play is filled with frank discussions about various sexual acts and an abundance of adult language and situations, there’s no nudity involved. Instead, the emotions of its two protagonists are ripped open and laid bare for all to see. It’s a riveting, gritty play that’s especially well-staged and brilliantly performed.

Bouncing back and forth through time, the play explores the ever-changing relationship between two intelligent young men, archetypically called The Academic and The Writer. Because Seavey developed The Writer around his own life experiences, that character tends to emerge as the more immediate. He is the focal point of the play. However, The Academic is also a strong, well-rounded protagonist, in his own right. The two men are written as realistic, three-dimensional characters who complement each other. They flirt, seduce, banter, spar, argue and outright fight, eventually reconciling and genuinely caring for their partner. What audiences will take away from this play is how, despite miles of progress made in the law, gay men are still the victims of hatred, both by others and self-inflicted. But, as we also witness, love is love.  

Although the play begins and ends with the same scene, the couple’s relationship begins in 2006, when the two meet on Friendster; but the play hopscotches throughout the years, ending in 2011. The Writer, a liberal, Jewish young man, who finds sexual experimentation as stimulating as the poppers he uses, is a contrast to The Academic’s more conservative, monogamous attitudes about their relationship. An instructor of media studies, he longs for a single life partner, someone with whom he can share his life, long before the equal rights amendment and the legalization of same-sex marriage. 

Jealousy soon rears its ugly head when Dan, a handsome, young, gay third party enters the picture. While The Writer at first feels threatened, he ultimately becomes excited by the fact that Dan, like him, is also a wordsmith. Eventually The Writer finds himself sexually attracted to Dan. He tries to persuade his Academic partner that the three ought to experiment with a menage a trois, in order to add a little spice to their relationship. While both Dan and The Writer are up for it, The Academic is hurt because he feels that his partner is bored with him. But, as America heads toward laws and legislation that will normalize gay life, something traumatic happens that changes everything. This event reaffirms to both men that, despite the passage of many new laws, homophobia is still alive and well in this country.

Derek Van Barham adds another artistic success to his long list of accolades, with this provocative new production. The director of such hit shows as “Perfect Arrangement,” “Angry Fags” and “The View Upstairs,” Mr. Van Barham proves with this exciting, new production that he’s one of Chicago’s most talented artists. He beautifully utilizes the intimacy of the 85-seat Broadway Theatre to challenge and engage his audience, making each theatergoer feel like an integral part of this story. His production bristles with sensuality and immediacy. His actors are often so close that the audience could reach out and touch them. He skillfully combines his thoughtful, spot-on direction with the intense, rapid-fire dialogue of Jordan Seavey’s script.

Van Barham’s four-member cast is top-notch. Handsome Niko Kourtis, who’s already made a big splash with performances in BoHo’s “Three Days of Rain” and Raven Theatre’s “The Assembled Parties,” gives a stellar performance as The Writer. This young actor appears as natural and relaxed as if we were watching video clips from his own life. The honesty and passion with which Kourtis delivers his dialogue, as if coming straight from his own heart, makes this young man an actor to remember. He’s matched, moment-for-moment, by dashing Nelson Rodriguez’s powerful performance as The Academic. Easily providing a correlative partnership with Kourtis, this talented actor, the Artistic Director of Pride Films & Plays, knows how to isolate a look, land a well-timed line and utilize a moment of silence to his best advantage. To see this production is not only to enjoy a fine production, but experience a expertly taught lesson in excellent acting.

The two supporting cast members, both of whom have the challenge of creating full characters in a smaller amount of stage time, do a great job. The always exciting, boyishly handsome Jordan Dell Harris, is Dan. A highlight of BoHo Theatre’s “A Little Night Music” and Pride Films & Plays’ Jeff Award nominated musical with Permoveo Productions, “The Civility of Albert Cashier,” Mr. Harris brings a suave, sensuality to this young, prolific author. Dan is smooth, relaxed and a young man who seems completely in charge, who enjoys his friendship, and perhaps more, with both The Academic and The Writer. Jessica Vann, who plays Laila, is the empathetic saleswoman at a shop that specializes in sensuous bath bombs and salts. In the short amount of time that Ms. Vann, a veteran of Porchlight’s Jeff-recommended “Billy Elliot: The Musical,” shares the stage with The Writer, we come to know a young woman who’s willing to go the extra mile. Sensing the trauma this young man is experiencing, Laila delivers her own version of love, in a performance that resonates long after the final curtain.

Jordan Seavey’s savvy play, which played Off-Broadway just two years ago, and has played both domestic and internationally over the past two years. It’s a smart choice for kicking off Pride Films & Plays’ new season of plays and musicals. This show is fast-paced and funny, while also being passionate and poignant. Featuring a simple, but effective scenic, lighting and sound design by G. “Max” Maxin IV, with style appropriate costuming by Uriel Gomez, Derek Van Barham’s latest production is a definite must-see for all adult audiences, especially members of Chicago’s LGBTQ community. Audiences will leave The Broadway Theatre reminded that in spite of everything, Love is, indeed, Love.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas   

 

Presented August 30-September 30 by Pride Films & Plays at the Broadway Theatre, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago.

Reviewed by Colin Douglas  

  

Presented by Pride Films & Plays at The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 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.