By Tracy Hawkins
Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song Trilogy” is a collection of three plays portraying the life of a gay man in the 1970’s and 80’s in New York City (pre-AIDS). Mr. Fierstein revamped the works into one play, “Torch Song,” which is making its Philadelphia debut with 1812 Productions at Plays & Players. And what a debut it is. Director Bill Fennelly has assembled a strong cast and brought the story to life with heart and wit.
Jamison Stern as Arnold Beckoff. Photo by Mark Garvin
The play follows the (adult) life journey of Arnold Beckoff, a gay Jewish man who makes his living as a drag queen and torch singer. Arnold begins the play bitter and disillusioned, with little self-worth. But over the course of the play, Arnold begins to value himself and the choices he makes, even as he struggles to understand what it is he wants, and what others expect of him. Is he worthy of love? When all is said and done, he absolutely is.
In the lead role, Jamison Stern is, quite simply, perfect. When actors speak of “finding the truth,” or “raising the stakes,” this is what they mean. His might be the single best performance on a Philadelphia stage this year. When he is joined by Grace Gonglewski as his Jewish mother, it’s magical. These two exceptional actors connect so beautifully. Hilarious, but also heartbreaking.
Ed (Gregory Isaac) is Arnold’s love interest early in the show, and Alan (Tyler Elliott) his later lover. Ed is confused about what (or who) he wants and manages to create confusion around him. Kudos to Mr. Isaac for making Ed a more sympathetic character than he probably deserves to be. Alan may have been given short shrift by Mr. Fierstein’s new adaptation in pulling the three plays into one. There’s a gap in understanding where they go from casual lovers in Act Two to something more in Act Three. Likewise, the introduction of David (Elliot Colahan) seems to come somewhat out of the blue. While this addition demonstrates Arnold’s growth as a person, the character’s interactions with others seem a little contrived. Karen Peakes’ portrayal of Laurel (a victim of Ed’s confusion) is a nice blend of humor, understanding, and, ultimately, desperation.
The production elements are also wonderful. The lighting design (Mike Inwood) is very good and enhanced greatly by the videos (Michael Long) projected on the closed curtains, depicting events central to the LGBTQ community over the period of the play. The projections continue directly on the set in Act Two, which aren’t as easy to see. The sound (Chris Sannino) is an excellent accompaniment to a show for which music is not only in the title, but an important element of the era. Costumes (Rebecca Kanach) are very good, most especially for Mrs. Beckoff, who is the image of a matron of Miami. The scenic design (Chris Haig), particularly in the third act, is well done. Every detail evokes a late 20th Century apartment in NYC. Don’t miss this great show!
If you go:
Run-time is 2.5 hours, with one 15-minute intermission. The show continues through May 19, and tickets are available through www.1812productions.org. Plays & Players is located at 1714 Delancey Street (between Spruce and Pine).