Jeffrey
Theatre Off Broadway: 1/19 - 3/1
Theatre Off Broadway’s revival of its 1995 production of Jeffrey, is a
TRIUMPH! A HUGE and UNMISSABLE HIT!
It’s a celebration of the heart and soul of all that is highest and best about the Gay lifestyle. The first time Steven Tangedal directed Paul Rudnick’s play was in 1995. You remember 1995, don’t you? Amendment Two, Focus on the Family, The Religious Wrong. Any way, its amazing how little things can change.
This production of Jeffrey is stellar.
First off, let’s talk about the direction. Steven Tangedal has returned to the director’s chair with all his artistic experience and sensibilities about the craft intact. Better than ever! They are honed to a fare thee well. The attention to set design, lighting and costuming is superb. Wait’ll you see the vid he has created to establish location!
Awesome!
You gotta see Doug Rosen as the trans gender wannabe mom look-alike, as she and Mom get all dolled up and ready to mount the flatbed truck for the Gay Pride Parade. It may not be pretty (ya gotta see this costume), but here as elsewhere; Rosen garners cheers, chuckles, guffaws, and hoots as he traverses the stage in multiple walk-ons and bit parts.
David Ballew turns in a scathingly funny portrayal of a horney homosexual priest.
Kate Gorski is superb portraying multiple characters with consummate comic panache. It is to be hoped that Ms. Gorski will be seen soon and often upon the Denver stage.
Lonny Brewer (Sterling) and Preston Lee Britton (Darius) do well in their respective roles as caring friends doing all they can to push Jeffrey (Todd Black) into the arms of his cute friend, Steve (Jeffrey Kwong,) who is HIV positive. The duet works well this time. Black does his best work to date as the title character. His portrait of Jeffrey is cute and funny, and fraught with anxiety about sex and death in the age of AIDS. Jeffrey Kwong is an amiable Steve.
What is most heartening about this production is that it truly speaks of
a renewal of genuine quality in Gay Theatre in Denver,
which has been absent for some time. Tangedal and his cast and crew are to be praised for
this joyful, celebratory ascension.
Not to be missed.