[NEohioPAL] Berko review: STANDING ON CEREMONY: THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS @ Cleveland Public Theatre

[Roy Berko]

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 *Funny, poignant, eye opening GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS at Cleveland Public
Theatre*



Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association & Cleveland Critics Circle)



Every era has its controversies.  Since theatre represents the era from
which it comes, here in the United States, attitudes about the women’s
movement were presented by feminist plays.  The Black movement found
African American writers sending forth their messages.  Today, with the Gay
rights movement in full swing, it is only logical that some of that
community’s issues reach the forefront.



Same sex marriage, except in Islamic countries and the United States, is
not a major issue.  Same sex marriages are legal in eleven countries
(Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden,
Portugal, Iceland, Argentina and Denmark).  In addition it is legally
recognized in Israel, Aruba, Curacao, Saint Maarten, Mexico and Brazil.  New
Zealand passed legislature approving same sex marriage in August.



STANDING ON CEREMONY:  THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS, started in 2011 in Los
Angeles as a series of fund raising events, when the issue of same sex
marriage was in the news in an on-again, off-again legal fight for
legalization in California. Money from the stagings was donated to marriage
equality organizations.



The 90-minute play, as conceived by Brain Shnipper, is not an attempt to
provide a balanced viewpoint on the issue, but is a celebratory look at gay
marriage, complete with its humorous, touching, and controversial issues.



In LA and New York, it was presented as a staged reading with a rotating
cast of celebrities taking the roles on any given night reading parts while
standing behind podiums.   At Cleveland Public Theatre, where the show is
presently running, there is a set cast and the scenes are acted out, with
memorized lines, costumes, a set, and clever staging.



The script, which consists of nine playlets, is the work of writers whose
accolades include the nominations and/or receipt of Pulitzer Prizes, Obies,
Emmys, and Tonys.  Each presents his/her unique take on before, after and
during the “I do.”



The first act consists of:

            •THE REVISION  Jordan Harrison’s amusing look at how two men go
about writing their wedding vows to reflect the limited options available
to a gay couple.

            •THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT  Wendy MacLeod asks if there can be any
hope for happiness when a lesbian couple travels to Iowa to take their vows.

            •THE GAY AGENDA  Paul Rudnicks’ sad, yet hilarious appeal for
restricting marriage to that between a man and a woman by an Ohio
homemaker, who is a member of the extreme right wing religiously
conservative, Focus on the Family.

            •ON FACEBOOK  Doug Wright takes on social media by following an
actual Facebook thread chronicling a discussion on the subject of gay
marriage, which starts out innocently and ends up as an all-out assault.

            •STRANGE FRUIT  Neil LaBute’s story of two women who want to
get married in the “old fashioned way,” but are frustrated by reality.



The second act centers on:

            •A TRADITIONAL WEDDING  Mo Gaffney gives a glimpse of a long
“married” lesbian couple reminiscing about their “wedding.”

            •MY HUSBAND  Paul Rudnick gives a delightful glimpse into the
machinations of an ultra liberal Jewish mother who is desperate to find a
husband for her gay son.

            •LONDON MOSQUITOES  Moisés Kaufman’s poignant story of a man
who, at his husband’s funeral, tries to make sense of the loss.

            •PABLO AND ANDRE AT THE ALTAR OF WORDS  José Rivera’s snapshot
of two men who use their wedding vows to say the things that people never
really say to each other.



            The CPT production under the creative and focused eye of Craig
J. George, wrings out almost all of the humor and pathos of each of the
scenes. The scenes are melded together by creative choreography.



            The cast, which includes Molly Andrews-Hinders, Maryann Elder,
Dana Hart, Stuart Hoffman, Michael Silverstein and Beth Wood is universally
excellent.



            Highlight segments are:  MaryAnn Elder’s sincere, but
hysterically funny attempt to make the audience understand the conservative
view against same sex marriage.  Elder also excels as the Jewish mother in
her attempt to find a husband for her Jewish son because, “what will my
friend’s think if you aren’t married?”  She is equally balanced in that
playlet by Michael Silverstein as her son.  Dana Hart induces high pitched
sadness in LONDON MOSQUITOES, as the husband left to grieve his husband.  Beth
Wood is properly hyper-hysterical over the thought of gay life in IOWA in
THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT.



            The final segment is the weakest, having a feeling of being
tacked on.  It doesn’t have the same writing quality or dramatic impact as
the rest of the pieces.



*Capsule judgement:  STANDING ON CEREMONY;  THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS is a
must see production for anyone who has empathy toward the same sex marriage
movement.  It should be required seeing for conservatives who don’t
understand why there is a need for a “gay agenda.”*



STANDING ON CEREMONY:  THE GAY MARRIAGE PLAYS runs though October 20.  For
tickets call 216-631-2727 or go on line to www.cptonline.org.


Roy Berko's commentaries and reviews appear on coolcleveland.com,
neohiopal.com,artsamerica.org,

and broadwaynews.com.  His blog is: www.royberko.info

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