Rod, the closeted gay puppet in ‘Avenue Q,’ is handled by the very
out (and cute) John Tartaglia.
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By Ettore Toppi
Friday, June 25, 2004
It seems as if more visitors than ever are in town this week, descending upon
New York for the gay high holy days (aka Pride Week). Most out of towners want
to take in a show or two, but with tight schedules (running from rallies to dances
to marches) and Broadway ticket prices sailing north of $100, choosing the right
show is essential.
In that spirit, here is my completely biased, absolutely one-sided, and totally
unscientific list of the best things theatrical to do while you’re in
town. (Not to be confused with “Urinetown,” which has now, tragically,
closed.)
• Broadway It’s sad but true that Broadway resembles nothing so
much as a theme park these days; however, if you accept that going in, you
can let the mindless, bloated spectacles wash over you, and you’ll have
a splendid time.
Following a big win at the Phony Awards, I mean the Tony Awards, live action/puppet
show “Avenue Q” has become an even hotter ticket. I assume that
most people by now know that “Avenue Q” is kind of like Sesame
Street, but a lot cheaper and far more dangerous. It’s a fun little show,
and gay theatergoers appreciate the “Ernie & Bert” storyline
involving a closet case puppet and his straight roommate.
“Wicked” is a good choice if you like big songs sung by big voices
wearing big costumes on big sets. There’s nothing particularly gay about
this, but it’s a safely mainstream crowd pleaser that delivers what it
promises. Although set in the land of Oz, Judy queens are advised that Dorothy
Gale is nowhere in sight.
The gayest show on Broadway — despite the absence of a single gay character — is
last season’s “Hairspray.” Gay composer Marc Shaiman and
co-lyricist (and life partner) Scott Wittman have captured the essence of gay
sleaze-meister John Waters’ vision of 1960’s Baltimore to a tee.
I haven’t seen the show since Michael McKean took over for Harvey Fierstein,
but early buzz is positive.
My top pick musical — if you only have time for one — is “Assassins.” This
is pomo musical storytelling at its best. Stephen Sondheim’s score is
a pastiche of American musical styles cleverly deployed to illuminate the stories
of nine presidential assassins. John Weidman’s book is cynical, absurd,
and darkly funny. The direction, by Joe Mantello, imbues the entire production
with the feel of a chilly, nightmare vision.
On the non-musical side, “I Am My Own Wife” is amazing, but I
recommend this only for those with long attention spans. Winner of a Pulitzer
and a Tony, this is an important piece of work, but be sure you’re well
rested or you’ll have one of the most expensive naps in history.
• Off-Broadway & off-off-Broadway looks interesting (and a lot less
expensive).
“Afterbirth: Kathy and Mo’s Greatest Hits” is a no-brainer
for a swell time. After all, it has Kathy Najimy and Mo Gaffney revisiting
the brilliant material they co-conceived and performed before they hit the
big time.
Sarah Jones goes the Anna Deveare Smith route with her performance piece “bridge & tunnel.” Jones
plays 14 characters, male and female, of many different ethnicities. It’s
rich, meaningful, and not nearly as arty as it sounds.
Surprisingly timely after all these years, Larry Kramer’s “The
Normal Heart” is required viewing for all gay men. Kramer’s script,
despite the venom and anger, is often heartbreakingly poetic. The richness
and depth of the language will have you gasping and Raul Esparza’s devastating
performance will leave you awestruck.
“The Gay Naked Play” is the latest from Emerging Artists Theatre,
one of my favorite theater companies in the city. This one’s a very funny
comedy with a sly, sexy edge.
In a last ditch effort to sell tickets, “My Big Gay Italian Wedding” has
enlisted “Boy Meets Boy” star James Getzlaff. Let’s hope
the laughs he gets this time are intentional.
The venerable Wings Theater Company, known for its annual gay play series,
is now featuring the last of this year’s series, “Thor’s
Day” an erotic thriller. Although I haven’t seen this yet, I’m
recommending it based on the quality of the rest of the series.
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