Gays. Plays. Mondays.
Coming Monday night to The Cabaret space at Below Zero Lounge is Queen City Queer Theatre Collective’s second staged reading, THE NORMAL HEART at 7:30pm.
Their first reading on Nov. 10 was THE BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES. Set in pre-Stonewall Greenwich Village, THE BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES follows the lives and loves of Laura, Beth and Beebo as they navigate uncharted territories of desire. Beth and Laura, secret lovers in college, went separate ways after graduation: Beth married and had children; Laura moved to New York. Both pine for each other, but before they can reunite, they find themselves entangled in the web of Beebo Brinker, a butch denizen of the bars with a soft spot for young lesbians fresh off the bus. Adapted from the 1950’s and 1960’s lesbian pulp novels by Ann Bannon, the play celebrates the era when “the love that dares not speak its name” began breaking the old rules.
I was really impressed with QCQTC’s inaugural outing. The play was smartly-written, filled with believable characters and a good dose of humor. Directed by Lindsey Augusta Mercer, the strong ensemble of six brought the script to life with solid characterizations and true emotions. For a first production, it was great to see an audience of about 40 people in attendance. I’m eager to see what they accomplish tonight.
THE NORMAL HEART is a searing drama about public and private indifference to the AIDS plague and one man’s lonely fight to awaken the world to the crisis. Produced to acclaim in New York, London and Los Angeles, THE NORMAL HEART follows Ned Weeks, a gay activist enraged at the indifference of public officials and the gay community. While trying to save the world from itself, he confronts the personal toll of AIDS when his lover dies of the disease.
Again directed by Lindsey Augusta Mercer, the cast includes Darnell Pierre Benjamin, Matthew Wilson, Jacob Zimmerman, Andrew Maloney, Mia Vera, Linnea Bond, DeAndre Smith, Charlie Cromer, Dallas Padoven & James Jones.
The performance is free and donations are gratefully accepted. The bar downstairs is open, so feel free to bring a cocktail upstairs.
I hope to see you there.
