JULY 21, 1995

GAY PEOPLe's ChroniCLE

EVENINGS OUT

Love in the twilight of a 40-year relationship

The Scent of Tulips

by Marty Kingsbury CSU Lab Theatre Through August 13

Reviewed by Doreen Cudnik

The Scent of Tulips, an eloquently tender love story by lesbian playwright Marty Kingsbury, is being presented in the Lab

lent job portraying characters that are deeply devoted to each other, yet are still products of their time.

Illustrative of this is the scene in which they discuss arrangements for Donna's burial. After forty years of living life on their own terms, Donna sees it as perfectly acceptable for the two lovers to be buried together, right alongside Cynthia's late husband Theo. Cynthia, on the other hand, while not at all ashamed of their relationship, has a very different opinion of what is the “right thing to do." Their love transcends these differences of opinion, though, and you know beyond any doubt that Donna will honor all of her lover's wishes, even at the expense ofher

Jean Colerider and Constance Pfieffer in The Scent of Tulips.

Theatre on the campus of Cleveland State University. The play tells the story of Donna and Cynthia, two women in their eighties, as they grapple together with Cynthia's terminal illness and bravely face her imminent death.

Cynthia and Donna have been life partners for forty years, after having been married to men; the only acceptable lifestyle for women in their time. After the deaths of their husbands, they find each other and discover the joy in making a home together in an era when homosexuality was considered a dreaded disease, and lesbians were largely invisible.

The issues raised in this play are universal-life, love, fear of the unknown-issues that we all have, whether we are gay or straight, men or women. The two actors in the play, Jean Colerider as Donna and Constance Pfeiffer as Cynthia, do an excel-

Private affordable resolutions for the community through mediation.

own.

Director Ellen Friedman said, "The essence of this play transcends barriers

we humans like to

build through ste-

reotypes and labels,

and beckons us to spend whatever time we have on this planet stimulating our minds, and developing our character. To let go of the garbage and focus on what matters is the calling of this play. In so doing, we

can experience a rebirthing of our souls, whether in life or death.”

They play is being presented in conjunction with A Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekhov, a satire on the ritual of heterosexual courtship and marriage. Brilliantly acted, the play never-

theless serves as a reminder of how far we have come as women. It was a strange decision to have this play featured alongside A Scent of Tulips, although for me it made Tulips seem even better.

On Friday, July 21, the two one-act plays will be presented as a benefit for Oven Productions, a non-profit group that brings lesbian and women's entertainment to the Cleveland area. Playwright Marty Kingsbury will be in town on the evening of the Oven benefit to discuss her play. If you miss the benefit, you can still catch these two plays through August 13. Call 216-241-6040 for ticket information.

relationship Now what?

Real Estate

Personal Property

▾ Financial Issues

▾ Custody

▾ Visitation

♡

"THE SUPER BOWL OF DRAG!

AN UNABASHEDLY LIBERATED SIGN OF THE TIMES!"

-Bruce Williamson, PLAYBOY

"MORE CLAWS THAN CATS!"

-Lypsinka

"AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE!"

Pat Kramer, BOX OFFICE MAGAZINE

"HILARIOUS AND CELEBRATORY!"

Andrew Crane, PLANET HOMO

"YOU'LL FLIP YOUR WIG!"

-The "Lady" Bunny

"DRAG A FRIEND ALONG!"

-Eva Destruction

WIGSTOCK

CEDAR LEE

Che Movie

7 EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT!

NOW SHOWING!

For More Info, Check Out MOVIENET http://www.movienet.com/movienet

LOVE

It's in

the stars

(And in the personals)

So try our personals with our new astrological portraits feature... it's a sign of the times.

PCHRONICLE