Theater Reviews: Gay Pride Month on Stage Weaves Representation Into the Fabrics of “Snow in Midsummer,” “Fat Ham” and “…What the End Will Be”

Snow in Midsummer (c) Julieta Cervantes

Theater Review: Snow in Midsummer 
Classic Stage Company 

Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig’s play focuses on a miscarriage of justice as a woman, Dou Yi (Dorcas Leung), is executed for a murder she swears she didn’t commit. Three years after her death, the Chinese city of New Harmony has been suffering a debilitating drought, but that hasn’t stopped entrepreneur Tianyun (Teresa Avia Lim) from investing in the city. But like all ghost stories, it’s her young, adopted daughter Fei-Fei (a wonderful Fin Moulding) that senses the spirit of Dou Yi as the truth starts to reveal itself. Handsome Zhang (John Yi), the wealthy son of the man Dou Yi is said to have killed, is hoping to leave the city with his boyfriend Rocket (Tommy Bo), leaving behind his spiritual mother, the bar owner, Mother Cai (Wai Ching Ho). And that isn’t half the plot as I haven’t even mentioned the titular event that figures so prominently in the story. The play’s based on a 13th century work by Guan Hanqing called “The Injustice to Dou Yi That Moved Heaven and Earth.” Cowhig has done a masterful job of transferring the story to modern times and director Zi Alikhan keeps the complicated story clear to the audience, while still giving us striking theatrical moments throughout, including the set piece of the evening: Dou Yi’s execution scene. There are certainly a lot of melodrama and soap opera elements, and your enjoyment of the play will depend on your tolerance for this kind of dramatic treatment. I found it fascinating, despite its excessiveness. The talented, excellent cast is a true ensemble. 

Film Reviews: Terence Davies Directs a Thoughtful WWI Era Gay Drama; A Hip and Fun “Sexplanation” Documentary

A Sexplanation (c) Herra Productions

Film Review: A Sexplanation 
On Demand Streaming 

Alex Liu, a science and health reporter, has directed himself in his first documentary, “A Sexplanation,” in which he goes around the country asking experts and persons-on-the-streets alike about, well, sex: How did they learn about it, is there embarrassment around it and, most important, how open are you about it in your daily life? Liu, a charming, gay, Asian American guy is not just behind the camera, he puts himself through some of the more “humiliating” stuff in front of it, like talking to his immigrant family about sex and having an MRI while performing, um, things on himself, all in the name of science. Like those MTV documentaries in the 1990s, Liu incorporates animations, quick editing and graphic graphics to keep it all entertaining while also educational. Liu explains his motives in making this film is to “strip away shame from sex – unless shame floats your boat.” Despite some juvenile references (Did he really have to meet a Stanford psychology professor at a restaurant called The Nut House?), this is all easygoing and fun, even when he interviews a Republican state senator and a Catholic priest - both remarkably friendly and dogma-lite. My favorite moment is when he asked his mother if she ever suspected he was gay, and she said she had suspicions when he was so enthusiastic for the figure skating events at the Olympics. Moms always know. 

The Interested Bystander's 2022 Tony Award Predictions: In Comes Company

(c) The Tony Awards 

Next Sunday, The Tony Awards will be handed out and the oddest race must be Best Musical in which Michael Jackson will go head-to-head with Michael R. Jackson as the Disgraced King of Pop whose life is portrayed in “MJ” vs. the Pulitzer Prize winning composer of “A Stranger Loop.” I will also be giving you my favorite in each category as well. Without further ado: 

Broadway Reviews: Ambitious Choreopoem Revival “for colored girls…” and the Black Comedy “The Minutes” as the Tony Awards Approaches

for colored girls... (c) Marc J. Franklin

2022 Tony Awards Recap: Part 2 

In honor of the upcoming Tony Awards on June 12, I have collected thoughts on Broadway shows I’ve seen that I didn’t write a proper review for. This is the second part, which covers two shows still playing on Broadway, two that have closed as well as links to the ones I did review. 

Film Review: "Fire Island" is the Perfect End to AAPI Heritage Month and a Refreshing Start to Gay Pride

Fire Island (c) Searchlight Pictures, Hulu

Film Review: Fire Island 
Streaming on Hulu

Premise: The first thing you hear at the start of “Fire Island,” an enjoyably fresh gay romcom, is someone’s ringtone: “She’s an icon. She’s a legend.” And the contemporary references don’t stop there, with casual name-drops like OnlyFans, Grindr and TED Talks. But make no mistake, Joel Kim Booster’s script is smack dab in early 19th Century Jane Austen territory, even giving us the first line of Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” in voiceover before diving into the heart of that novel’s plot and themes. Booster plays Noah, the Lizzie Bennett of his gay group of sisters, and they’re spending their annual summer Fire Island week at the home of Momma Bear Erin (Margaret Cho). Noah’s best friend is Howie (Bowen Yang), a shy, romantic Jane Bennett–type who has never had a serious relationship, and so his flirtation with young, “so adorably clueless” L.A. doctor Charlie (James Scully) is cute, but also sets off the warning bells of Charlie’s rich, obnoxious friends, including lawyer Will (Conrad Ricamora), whom Noah takes an instant disliking to. The fun of the film is to see how Booster twists Austen’s story into this modern gay fable. Noah and Will fight and flirt over Alice Munroe, Alicia Vikander and even have their major confrontation in the rain. There’s even a too-good-to-be-true Mr. Wickham in the person of Dex (Zane Philips).