In celebration of Pride month, the About Face Theatre has launched the world premiere of The Homosexuals by local playwright Phillip Dawkins. Dawkins weaves a familiar tale of friendship, lost loves, and how that impact helps define our current selves. It's funny, heartbreaking, and oh so relatable… even for Breeders.The play begins with Evan, played by Patrick Andrews, sitting alone at a skating rink. He's strikingly handsome but, for a yet to be disclosed reason, appears discontent. That is until Peter makes his appearance. Peter, aptly played by Scott Bradley, is over-the-top, can't deny his love of musicals, and is perhaps tittering on the edge of being a stereotypically flamboyant gay man. Off the bat, the two men don't appear destined to be together. In sheer moments, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, their relationship unravels leaving only questions of why and how they got to this point. Thus begins the ten-year retrospective of Evan's comical yet dramatic life since venturing out of the closet and into the big city.
Starting in the present, the play works back to a party in the year 2000. Aside from being the dawn of a new millennium, it also marked the beginning of Evan’s journey as an openly out gay man and his introduction to the people who would have the largest impact on the person he becomes in the future. Director Bonnie Metzgar brilliantly transitions between years by having the character Evan be undressed, redressed, and having him move backwards to a compilation of pop songs.
Each scene cleverly introduces a friendship while tackling certain significant aspects of being homosexual. These topics run the gamete from the incestual nature of a group of gay friends to creating one’s own definition of what a gay person should be. As the clock rewinds, the layers of Evan are peeled back exposing his insecurities with himself and his overwhelming need to be loved and feel he belongs.
Catty one-liners, insightful perspectives, and a hag (Elizabeth Ledo) I wish to emulate made this performance truly enjoyable. Simply stated, the cast delivers wit, charm, and everything that makes a production worthy of a rave review.
Presented by About Face Theatre
Regular Run: Jun 18 - Jul 24, 2011
@ Victory Gardens Biograph Theater
2433 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago
Show Type: Comedy/Drama
Box Office: 773-871-3000
