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GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

January 10, 1992

North Coast Men's Chorus "Joy to the World"

by Martha Pontoni

How long has it been since you went to a North Coast Men's Chorus concert? For me, it has been years. I went to the first one, and honestly was not impressed. I went to the recent "Joy to the World" concert, and had my opinions shaken up a little.

The group has definitely matured in style and ability. The performance was wonderful. The addition of the soloist

and brass was a nice touch and very beautiful. The choice of songs was eclectic, and really did represent a world of holiday music.

The tempo was a bit slow, and the great parts of the show came with the more upbeat songs, which included audience participation. The Coastliners, an offshoot of the Chorus, sang a snappy tune that woke up the audience and made

Midwest premiere of Kondoleon comedy opens

Harry Kondoleon's comedy, Zero Positive, will be presented January 10 to February 2 at the Working Theatre, 2592 W. 14th St. Produced as an Actor's Equity Member's Project by Jean Zarzour. It marks the second production of Cleveland's newest professional theatre company in its permanent home, Pilgrim Congregational Church. The church is in historic Tremont neighborhood.

The title of Kondoleon's comedy refers to the main character's half-mistakenly heard news of his and his female best friend's positive tests for the HIV virus. The play explores how he deals with the news of such a "death threat." Kondoleon's farcical treatment may have been generated by the circumstances of his own diagnosis: "My own zeropositive diagnosis was given by a doctor (who, ironically, recently died of a heart attack at 44) who informed me that this was 'bad news, very bad news.''

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At least nine of his plays have been produced in New York including

Christmas on Mars, The Cote D'Azur Triangle and The Fairy Garden. His honors include Fulbright and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Rockefeller and Guggenheim fellowships.

When asked what he thought of people who believed the disease was God's judgment, he replied, "You mean like cancer, crib death and the common cold? I think such people should stay in their homes with the curtains drawn. God despises them."

The production of Zero Positive is directed by the Working Theatre's artistic director, Walter E. Grodzik. The cast includes Equity members Allen Leatherman, Elaine Thomas, and Jean Zarzour. Non-Equity members include Kirk Anderson, Colin Doty, and Danny Morris.

Tickets for Zero Positive are $8.00 and may be reserved by calling the Working Theatre at 696-9600. Free parking is available next to the theatre.

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them feel part of the show. Until then, there was distance in which the audience was not part of this concert. Unfortunately, this bit of revelry came toward the end and it was disappointing that there wasn't more.

I'm not a choral arts critic. I did enjoy the show. I couldn't help thinking that the Chorus is now good enough to really attract some big audiences. Maybe it's time to get the word out that the Chorus is worth the price of a ticket and really pump up those audiences. I'm sure even the non-gay community would enjoy this performance.

The Chorus, under the presidency of Bob Taylor, has really become a part of

this community, and the concerts certainly provide a meeting place for lesbians and gay men to enjoy fine music. Director Robert Bellisario put on a fine show, but for my taste, Bob, let's have some more upbeat numbers and playing to the audience. I think everyone would enjoy the concert much more if they felt part of the concert, instead of just watching. Maybe spoken introductions to the songs would help.

The North Coast Men's Chorus has two more concerts planned for the late winter and spring of 1992. If you haven't seen these guys for a while, I think it is time to go back and take some pride in this fine group of artists. ▼

10th CPT New Play Festival

by Kevin Beaney

The Cleveland Public Theatre opens its tenth Festival of New Plays on January 10 for three weekends. As in previous festivals, a number of new works-13 this year-will receive staged readings followed by a moderated discussion period to give audience feedback to the playwright.

This year's festival features a strong sampling of dark comedies, balanced by poignant stories of emotional turmoil. Of top interest to gay audiences will be Robert McVey's Politically Correct, playing January 17 at 8:00 p.m. and repeating January 19 at 3:00 p.m. This play is a fast-paced farce about insecure people who resort to frequent sex changes to satisfy their partners or themselves. As names and genders change, with the help of a maniacal lesbian electrolysist, the play soundly lampoons the Vatican and the pope's attitude towards AIDS and gay people.

Sharing the bill with Politically Correct is Madra With Child by Colette Burson, a dark comedy of personal choice. Should she keep the unplanned pregnancy? Does it matter that the embryo happens to be a rabbit? Pass the carrots.

A number of the plays focus on women making critical decisions. Ellen Kaplan's Back Home (January 10 at 8:00 p.m. and January 12 at 3:00 p.m.) is a haunting story of a woman journalist recently returned from Peru who abandoned a good friend there-a supporter of the revolution. She wrestles with thoughts of whether she should return and somehow save this friend, a nun who by now could

be captured, or get on with her own life in the States.

Otto's Grotto, by Bronwyn and James Jameson (January 11 and January 12 at 8:00 p.m.), finds a young woman and her parents trapped within the walls of a grotto. Every time she tries to change her life from its hopeless routine, they all are threatened by an unseen Otto pounding on the door from outside.

This year, two short plays of Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro are being presented. Eppur Si Muove is about a phantom pregnancy; The Second Coming is about the love between a baby and a mutant man-bird at time's end.

Each weekend there are two programs. One runs on Friday at 8:00 p.m. and repeats on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. The other program runs Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and repeats on Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Each program contains at least two plays followed by audience discussion. The dates are January 10-26.

Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors. A $20 festival pass is also available for all 13 plays.

For anyone interested in theater, the Festival of New Plays offers a good opportunity to see fresh, new alternative works of high caliber from both local and national playwrights in a workshop setting. This year's selections were culled from almost 250 submissions. The Cleveland Public Theatre is at 6415 Detroit Ave., at the corner of W. 65th St. Call 631-2727 for further information. ▼

Hate Crime Update

compiled by the Maryann Finegan Project

Recently reported incidents: August 1-Gay man and friend verbally abused by former's ex-lover at Legends. Assailant then physically assaulted ex-lover by choking. Lakewood police called, responded promptly and sensitively. Assailant apprehended a short distance from bar.

October 1-Gay man threatened with violence by ex-lover. Bar owner intervened.

November 4-Three men leaving

a 12-step meeting verbally assaulted by four men and one woman. One man tried to start a fight, but victims moved on. November 5-Three separate incidents of domestic violence: 1) punched by ex-lover; 2) tires slashed; and 3) car spray-painted in front of parents' house. November 7-Gay male sexually assaulted at knife point in Old Arcade bathroom.

November 17-E. 21st and St. Clair, outside of the Leather Stallion. Two police officers were witnessed assaulting victim by banging his head on the car hood, then forcibly restraining him on the ground. Homophobic motive not established. Police complaint filed.

November 24-Female victim outside of Center approached by an intoxicated male who put his arm around the victim's and asked her to come with him. Victim refused, pulled away and walked back toward Center without further incident. Perpetrator and two companions moved on.

The Community Relations Board is now working with the Project on a mechanism for incorporating Maryann Finegan Project report data into city crime records to facilitate crime solving. ▼