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End of the World Party |
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Author: Chuck Ranberg
Reviewer: David Roberts for Theatre Reviews Limited |
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"End of the World Party" is television writer Chuck Ranberg's new comedy about a group of gay friends who spend their Summers at the same Fire Island rental year after year. It's sort of Terrence McNalley's 1995 "Love! Valour! Compassion!" meets Mart Crowley's 1993 "The Boys in the Band." Except, thankfully, no straight men and, unfortunately, not as good.
It is interesting that most of the episodes of "Frasier" dealing with gay issues (whether written by series writer and producer Chuck Ranberg or not) are far more gay friendly than this new "End Of The World Party" which recently opened at the 47th Street Theatre.
  
Rental regulars Hunter (Jim J. Bullock), Roger (Christopher Durham), Will (Anthony Barrile), Travis (David Drake), and Nick (Russell Scott Lewis) along with rental newcomer Phil (Brian Cooper) and local hottie Chip (Adam Simmons) struggle with the question: "Is there life after bitchiness and booze, a future for gay men beyond the meat rack and the medicine cabinet, a purpose for weekends away from the city other than whining and whoring.
All relevant questions never answered by Mr. Ranberg in any satisfying way. Unfortunately the characters in this new comedy are mostly stereotypes from some past time in the history of gay men. It is doubtful that there was ever a time when gay men could possibly have been as vapid, self-absorbed, bitchy, or constant bedfellows of tiresome clichs as the characters in Ranberg's play. It is impossible to care about any of them. This is particularly unfortunate given the homophobic climate in the United States that sorely needs to be challenged by a positive, meaningful piece of drama or comedy.
And this is even more unfortunate since there are issues that Ranberg raises which are significant.Even though the characters are shallow they sometimes speak important lines.They are concerned with aging and unprotected sex. They worry about being alone or becoming ill. They wonder about what kind of relationships might make sense between two men.
But Ranberg makes these men so lifeless that the audience does not even get the opportunity to hear any meaningful resolution to the important questions he raises. All of the actors here valiantly struggle with the script and cannot be faulted with the comedy's lack of humor. Nick's addictive, co-dependent behavior is boring. He needs to simply grow up and get on with his life. But Russell Scott Lewis (Nick) does a superb job fleshing out even such a silly character. The same is true of all of the remaining cast.
Anthony Barrile (Will) does his very best to show us a person searching for love in all the wrong places and oddly oblivious to the danger he places himself and others in. Jim J. Bullock give us a great group catalyst (Hunter) who is both struggling with his work and the meaning of significant relationships. Brian Cooper is wonderful as the newcomer Phil who, as the youngest housemate, questions the values of his older counterparts. David Drake does the best any actor could with Travis, whose lover died after battling AIDS and who is the house spiritual advisor. Mr. Drake is a brave actor to tackle a character whom the playwright gives no believable persona. Not even Travis' friends seem to care that he is in bereavement. Christopher Durham successfully portrays a physically beautiful man who has to deal with his aging and his desire to soften the blows of advancing in years by searching for a younger alter ego. And Adam Simmons managers to make fantasy object Chip as approachable as possible.
These fine actors deserve a more solid script and some more attentive direction. To assume these men would throw an "end of the word" party as predictable and club-boy like as the party we have to sit through is simply not believable. Nick's near death, drug-induced collapse is pathetic and, despite actor Russell Scott's heroic efforts, the audience really doesn't care whether Nick lives or dies.
The generational differences are important. The serious questioning of the future of love and its ability to "save us" is unquestionably a vital dialogue as is the discussion of whether gay relationships should pattern themselves after heterosexual relationships, relationships which are often less than healthy or redeeming.
And it is probably true gay men need a retreat from the straight world. The friends in Ranberg's play affirm that Fire Island "is where we come to get away from the world," "our Never-Never-Land."
There are endearing moments here which would have more meaning if the characters were more real, more approachable, less cartoons, less walking gag lines.
Part of the confusion might be that Ranberg is placing his play in the present (the Playbill clearly says "last Summer") but writing from some history or experience well over a decade ago (he dedicates the piece to the summer residents of 52 Lone Hill, Fire Island Pines, 1986-1989).
Members of the audience sometimes seemed embarrassed to see their lives being portrayed in such a stereotypical manner. There were laughs; however these laughs seemed often more statements of discomfort than outright approval.
Reviewed on Sunday, November 12, 2000
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A comedy by Chuck Ranberg. Directed by Matthew Lombardo. Sets by Christopher Pickart; lighting by Michael Gilliam; costumes by Raymond Dragon; production stage manager, Denise Yaney. Presented by Kings Road Entertainment, Inc., in association with Tim Ranney at the 47th Street Theatre, 304 West 47th Street. Performance schedule: Monday, Wednesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $45.00 Monday through Thursday, Saturday matinee and both performances on Sunday; $49.50 on Friday and Saturday evenings. Call Tele-Charge at (212) 239-6200 or click on "Purchase Tickets" above.
WITH: Anthony Barrile (Will), Jim J. Bullock (Hunter), Brian Cooper (Phil), David Drake (Travis), Christopher Durham (Roger), Russell Scott (Nick), and Adam Simmons (Chip).
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