FEBRUARY 25, 1994 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 15
ENTERTAINMENT
Emotionally charged play sees past the stereotypes
Walking the Dead
Cleveland Public Theatre Through March 12
Reviewed by Barry Daniels
The laughter of the audience at the Chronicle's benefit preview performance of Walking the Dead was often interrupted by gasps of horror and recognition. Keith Curran's play is a mixture of wickedly realized takes on stereotypical behavior in the and lesbian community and astute gay commentary on the homophobia we often confront in family situations as well as in media representations.
Amanda Shaffer, the director, has succeeded at the most difficult task of making us see and care for the person behind the stereotype. This doubleness of vision is central to understanding Curran's work. The play, which often pokes fun at performance art, is also an elaborate performance art piece created by Maya DeBoats. It is also a ceremony that brings together six people whose lives were affected by the death of Veronica Tass, Maya's lover, whose decision to have a sex change operation is the focus of the play's narrative.
In her opening speech Maya explains what the piece will be. "We have all of us, as a result of her death, been unable to move on... I have called us here today to compile. Compile Veronica. Veronica unaltered by the nostalgic and often disorienting drift of memory." Set in an art gallery, the characters are seated at chairs on two sides of an open space near the audience. They move into two settings representing rooms at the back of the gallery and reenact various scenes with Veronica. They often break out of the scenes to comment on them or ques-
tion Maya. When not in scenes, they comment from their chairs as observers. Often they address the audience directly. It is a dynamic structure that is both self-consciously theatrical and intensely dramatic. As deft as Shaffer's hand is with this emotionally charged material, much credit must go to the excellent work of her actors. Cynthia Cupach as Maya is convincing as a loving and supportive partner and as an artist. She remains poised on the surface as she confronts the racism and homophobia of Veronica's mother and the manipulation of filmmaker Stan. Tammy Shanley is a likeable, tomboyish Veronica. She makes us believe that Veronica's decision to become a man is the right one for the character. The scene in which she comes out to her mother is heartbreaking. She is fine in the key scene with Dr. Drum. Allen Branstein perfectly portrays the brutal front Drum must use to help insure that Veronica is making the right decision. As the scene ends, he lets his real compassion show through.
Chess Wysynysky, neighbor and friend of Veronica and Maya, is naive and awkward and thoroughly engaging as performed by Michael Sobczak. He is as inept in his volunteer work as he is in managing his almost non-existent social life. Tom Harris doesn't exaggerate the over-the-top qualities of Bobby Brax, the forty-year-old, selfloathing, maudlin, alcoholic faggot who finds brief solace in Chess's arms. His sharp queeny tongue often makes us laugh in spite of ourselves.
The villains of the piece are Veronica's mother and the filmmaker, Stan. Eric Lee's Stan is a smooth-talking con-artist who uses people to further his own career. His inter-
D.L. Dunkle & Associates
A LESBIAN & GAY PSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTICE
Debra L. Dunkle, LISW
Jane Miller, MSSA, LSW
LOUIS MCCLUNG
Filmmaker Stan manipulates Maya and Veronica into portraying their life together as a cariacture of his own ideas of gender roles.
est in Veronica's operation is purely exploitive. Patty Benson as Veronica's mother, Dottie Tass LoBiablos, nearly steals the show. Her character manages to make derogatory remarks about every conceivable minority. Benson manages to make us laugh at her outrageous bigotry. Despite her misguided thinking and blundering, Benson makes us see how she loved Veronica and how, in her way, she tries to understand. (Her wedding dress is costume designer Denajua's most beautiful creation for the show.)
It is good to see a play like Walking the Dead that is ruthlessly honest in representing gay and lesbian life and not afraid to confront reactions to transsexualism as well. It is surprising how much laughter playwright Curran generates as he exposes hos-
tility within the community, stereotypes, self-hatred and confusion. Curran is a sharp and witty observer, but also, and importantly, a compassionate one. It is also empowering to see the gay and lesbian couples touching and kissing naturally in so public an arena as a theater. I think it will be an especially powerful experience to see it with a mixed audience: to see how straight and gay people respond to the issues and to each other as they watch the performance. Walking the Dead continues at the Cleveland Public Theatre through March 12, Thursday-Saturday at 8 pm, Sunday at 7 pm. Tickets are $10, ($6 students and seniors) and $2 on Thursday, except for March 3 which is a benefit for ACT UP. For reservations telephone 631-2727. ♡
david's dog designs
(Formerly Groomingdale's No Affiliation to Bloomingdales)
PROFESSIONAL DOG &
John R. O'Connor, LISW
CAT GROOMING
4495 Rushton Road South Euclid, OH 44121 Located behind McDonalds at Mayfield & Green
Martha Webb, CCDC, LPC
Offering Professional, Confidential Services To Individuals, Couples, And Groups.
12417 Cedar, Suites 21-24 Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106 216/229-2100
Suite Lorain
7105 LORAIN AVE CLEVELAND, OH 44102 (216) 281-1959
*
OPEN DAILY 11:00 5:00
VINTAGE DESIGNER CLOTHING AND SHOES
CLOCKS, TELEVISIONS AND RADIOS
COLLECTABLES FINE FURNITURE VINTAGE FABRICS
FINE ART PAINTINGS AND PRINTS KITCHEN KITSCH
BOOKS, RECORDS AND MAGAZINES
CERAMICS
LIGHTING
Award Winning Groomers
(216) 382-BARK
L'ELEPHANT BLANC
"the path to imagination begins... make the journey."
art, antiques, world collectibles, treasures, better women's clothing on consignment and holiday decorations.
Artist of the Month
Thomas Kilbane
An evening with the artist, Tuesday March 1st. 6pm-8pm at our gallery.
11718 LORAIN AVENUE
CLEVELAND
251-5099