| McNally's 1995
play, "Love! Valour! Compassion!" now at the Jewish Community Center Theater, is
about home" sexual couples congregating -- at a vacation home not only on the Fourth
of July weekend, but two other weekends Memorial Day and Labor Day. Each weekend's events
make up a one-act (one hour each) play. This makes for not only a rather long play, but one that somewhat mirrors
"lips Together," which was set within a homosexual vacation neighborhood. The
characters in "Love," could easily have been the unseen neighbors who made the
couples nervous in the earlier play. Ms. Phillips is again the director.
On the basis of "Love" McNally, could be
tabbed a gay Neil Simon. "Love" has the same mix of sentimentality, relationship
ordering, nostalgia and snappy one-liners that characterize so many Simon works.
Unlike some gay-themed work, "love,"is not
directed at all audiences. There are no women or heterosexuals in it, and it seems very
much a play for gay audiences.
Gregory, an aging Broadway choreographer-dancer whose
lover is the much younger Bobby, has invited two male couples and a friend for the first
of the holiday weekends. Tensions develop', as Bobby falls for Ramon, a dancer who has
arrived with the nasty English character, John. Humor is provided by Buzz (superbly
realized by Sherman Bass).
At subsequent weekends, John's better-natured brother,
James, shows up, cheery' despite an advanced case of AIDS. James takes to' Buzz' while
Gregory and Bobby's relationship deteriorates.
Brett Foster is genuinely impressive in the double
role of John and James, creating two believably different characters. Also very good is
Jerry Jensen as Gregory, a dignified character facing career and relationship crises.
"Love" is never heavy-handed but sexual frankness (male kissing) and language might offend some. It is light-hearted and witty, despite making some serious points. |
