December, 1991

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 7

Gay son and straight father find love in new Dobama play

Dobama Theatre's third production this season is the Cleveland premiere of David Stevens' warm, funny and sensitive portrayal of the relationship between a father and his son who is gay. The Sum of Us recently closed after a very successful run at the Cherry Land Theatre in New York City.

In the play, Jeff is looking for love. His dad, Harry, hopes Jeff finds love. Jeff is looking for a boyfriend. Harry, a widower, is looking for a girlfriend. The Sum of Us presents a well-balanced household where a gay son and a straight father live together in love, support

and acceptance. But, harmony doesn't always reign-sometimes there are arguments over who's cooking and who didn't do the laundry. Or who did both chores poorly? And do Dad's disappearing socks wind up in the crotch of Jeff's tight jeans when he anxiously prepares for a date?

And then there's the warm memory of Harry's deceased mom--Jeff's late grandmother. After her husband's death, Grandma went to the Salvation Army looking for Christ, and found love with a drummer named Mary. The spunky spirits of Grandma

200 attend this year's hayride

The Fifth Annual Community Hayride was a huge success. Monotones, a social group for gay men and lesbians in a committed monogamous relationship, sponsored the event this past September. Attendance at the hayride has grown from 50 five years ago to more than 200 this year. For the last two years, Monotones has added to the enjoyment of the evening by having a DJ, demonstrations from the Cleveland City Country Dancers, and a photo booth. This year a catering service provided additional food.

Due to the increased sales and revenue

this year at the hayride, the Monotones will be able to donate more than $600 back to the community. In previous years, because of their fund-raising efforts with the hayride and a poinsettia sale around the holidays, they have been able to make sizable donations to Pride, NOCI, HIT and the Names Project.

The Monotones would like to publicly thank everyone for their support. And thanks for making this year's Community Hayride the enormous success that it was. See you next year.▼

2nd 'Living Color' awards held

The second annual "In Living Color" Awards Show was held Sunday, Nov. 17 at Keys Nite Club. Hosting the event was Pappy, co-founder of In Living Color productions; and Johnny, business manager for Yofreakka & Co..

Among the entertainers were:

Yofreakka & Co., Tawana Gold, Coco Starr, Isis, Jeff, (Mr. Groovy Guy 1991) Red (Mr. Groovy Guy 1990), Rena Devereux, Poison, Jamie Booker, and Deception, this year's recipient of the Entertainer of the Year Award,

This year two recipients for the "Big Mama" Humanitarian Award were chosen. They were Isis and Johnny. It was announced that the other founder of In Living Color, David Kennedy now resides in Atlanta, GA. where he has started an Atlanta chapter of In Living Color Productions and hopes to produce a joint venture of Cleveland and Atlanta.

So stay tuned for more In Living Color events such as Dec. 15 at Keys: the 11th Annual Mr. Groovy Guy Contest. ▼

The "In Living Color" Awards

Best Show Club/Night Best Bar Manager Best Bartender Male

Best Bartender-Female

Best Publication

Best Entertainer-Male

Best Entertainer-Female

Best Female Impersonator Best New Entertainer

Keys, with Yofreakka & Co. Run at Numbers

Ben at Porky's

Mary at Numbers

The Gay People's Chronicle Tony Harris Kesha Deception Poison

and Mary still enrich the household.

Now Jeff has met Greg. Greg's a nice guy with nice legs. But they're both a little shy about starting a relationship. Harry has met Joyce. Joyce is a refined woman with refined tastes, but will she accept a stepson who's gay? Will Harry propose to a woman who won't accept his son? Harry doesn't want to stop buying those gay porn magazines as a turn on for Jeff to motivate his pursuit of Greg. After all, Harry would rather miss a sock than miss a son.

This warm-hearted comedy with a lot of laughs and some tears along the way is a loving look at relationships, at love and at people who are free to be.

As Harry quotes Gran, "There's amazing things waiting for you just around the next corner, if only you take the trouble to look, wonder things, like love, the greatest adventure of all. Your Gran said it once, I've

never forgotten it, the greatest explorers of all, she said, are the explorers of the human heart."

Playwright David Stevens directed the award winning TV mini-series A Town Like Alice and the cult classic movie The Clinic. He was co-writer of the Oscar nominated screenplay Breaker Morant. In the United States, Mr. Stevens directed the movie Kansas with Matt Dillon and Andrew McCarthy.

Dobama Theatre presents the Cleveland premiere of The Sum of Us by David Stevens opening on December 6 and running through December 29.

David Stevens' play provides a wonderful opportunity for a group outing. Or even a benefit performance-raise funds while having fun. Dobama Theatre is located at 1846 Coventry Rd. in Cleveland Heights, phone 932-6838.▼

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