The Pride

I just finished reading a wonderful play called THE PRIDE by Alexi Kay Campbell (published in 2008) which About Face is producing the Chicago premiere of this summer with some of my favorite actors. In the script, there are two characters that recount mystical experiences in which they hear voices; these two characters are both gay Londoners, share the name Oliver, and are meant to be portrayed by the same actor.

The first Oliver lives in 1958 when homosexuality was considered a mental illness and grotesque lifestyle. While travelling in Greece, Oliver visits Delphi – famously known as the home of the oracle in the Oedipus Trilogy – he has a comforting “epiphany” in which a voice says "everything [is] going to be all right.”  The second Oliver lives in 2008. However, the voice that he hears knows him by name and calls him into sordid situations in which he relapses to his sexual addiction of having anonymous hook-ups. Despite his inability to successfully combat his addiction, he finds hope in the future through human connection and an internal recognition with another person, his boyfriend. In the span of 50 years, the Olivers 50 find acceptance in society and within themselves. The world is changing and “one day, maybe many, many years from now, there will be an understanding of certain things, a deeper understanding of certain aspects of our natures that would make all the difficulties we now feel, all the fears we now hold onto and the sleepless nights we now have seem almost worthwhile… And that the people who live in those times, be it fifty or five hundred years from now will be happy with that understanding and wiser for it. Better.”

I felt a deep connection to this play and especially this more supernatural element. I think whatever force that connected these characters is present in my life as well. I've always believed I would be all right if I took steps towards being true to myself. It wasn't a voice (which is a nice theatrical, magical touch for the play) that spoke to me, but it was my own thoughts and hopes of what could be - not just as a gay man, but as a human being. The fact that these two characters found internal peace and acceptance despite the turmoil comforts me. It makes me believe that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Also, it’s nice to know that Alexi Kay Campbell recognizes (and beautifully manifests) this feeling I have never been able to fully articulate. It helps me not feel alone – and that gives me hope and peace. 

The Bachelors

Here's the press release for the staged reading I will be working on the next few weeks!

David Zak of Pride Films and Plays will direct an enhanced staged reading of The Bachelors, a screenplay written by Rick Kinnebrew and Martha Meyer

on Sunday, January 13, at 2 pm. The performance will be at Piven Theater, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston. 

In a small town during the Depression, an improbable business venture conceals a great love.

Based on a true story, The Bachelors introduces us to Bob Neal, a London interior decorator who returns to his failing Wisconsin hometown in 1934 and hires a local man to help him restore a historic rock cottage.

The Bachelors was a semifinalist for the Great Gay Screenplay Competition, and opens a fresh perspective on gay marriage. Your comments and feedback will help shape this new work.  Free and open to the public. 

David Zak is Executive Director of Pride Films and Plays.  He served as Managing Director of Chicago Bailiwick Repertory Theater, and has won Jeff Awards for fostering new works.

The acting ensemble will be comprised of Pride Films and Plays' artistic ensemble members David Besky, Tom Chiola, Kristofer Hyland, Joan McGrath, Beth Richards, Nelson Rodriguez, Jamie Smith, and Nick Stockwell.

Rick Kinnebrew and Martha Meyer live in Evanston, Illinois and write plays for children as part of their work at Evanston Public Library.  Proceeds from this performance will benefit the Mineral Point Public Library, where Rick and Martha researched this story.

For more information, contact Rick Kinnebrew at 847-644-7448.

Film & Theatre Reviews

So I am an entertainment junkie (kind of) and frequent movie theaters and regular theatres. I love to follow the awards season with special interest in the Academy Awards. I like to predict the nominees/winners and name my own superlatives. In preparation for that madness, I write short reviews on movies and plays. Here's a little taste of that:

THEATRE

You can check out my review of 
About Face Theatre's We Three Lizas for Chicago Stage Standard 

on their website: http://chicagostagestyle.com/threelizas.asp. 

FILM

Though not as stuffy as the trailer would make you believe, LINCOLN fails to fully engage and falters to be thoroughly entertaining despite fine performances. Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field are strongly paired, but Tommy Lee Jones barely fits in style of the film despite his earnest performance. Tony Kushner’s relevant script adds surprises to the well-known historical story, but is stretched by an indulgent pace. The period detail is marvelous from the set decor to the instantly recognizable costumes. Finally, Steven Spielberg is a legendary filmmaker that creates masterful epics. However, LINCOLN is not a film that I truly enjoyed or am excited to watch again. 3.5/5 Stars.

The visual storytelling in LIFE OF PI is breathtaking. Ang Lee playfully incorporates lovely images and aids Suraj Sharma to giving a truthful performance in a tricky, difficult role. What the screenplay lacks in subtlety, it makes up for with humor. The task of making the bleak circumstances exciting was masterfully handled through beautiful cinematography and incredible visual and sound effects. LIFE OF PI is truly a technical wonder. 4/5 Stars.

Ben Affleck delivers a surprisingly exciting period drama that is as suspenseful as tender. He directs a fine ensemble with outstanding performance by Bryan Cranston and Alan Arkin.  The ensemble, taut script, and excellent cinematography give ARGO an authentic feel. Affleck has developed nicely as an actor, but more remarkably as a filmmaker. The unrelenting pace and continuous promises of violence make ARGO a top notch thriller right up to its climactic scene.  5/5 Stars.

Hopefully, that was enough to wet your palette. Have you had a chance to see any of these? What did you think??