Another Point of View by Sylvia S. Cutler, January 5, 1997

This particular production--Love! Valour! Compassion! by Terrence McNally-- took place at the Waterfront Playhouse at Mallory Dock in Key West over New Years. Should you run into it anywhere else, check it out. It is worthy of your consideration.

What theatre is all about is getting inside another human being's skin, thinking his thoughts, feeling his emotions, understanding his pain. Terrence McNally does this superbly well in Love! Valour! Compassion! Whatever you may feel about this particular play, you certainly will understand compassion at play's end, as seven men rally around a friend who is dying of AIDS.

Terrence McNally's play received the 1995 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Play. He is also the playwright for the awardwinning Master Class, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, and Kiss of the Spiderwoman. It is no mean feat to produce four significant plays in such a short period of time.

In the play, seven gay friends take a holiday at a remote house by a lake in Dutchess County, New York. One has a twin brother who's HIV positive. Another is blind; a third is plagued by an overabundance of testosterone; and another is struggling to perfect dance routines for an upcoming production, even as he agonizes about his continued ability to do so.

Their relationships with one another are at once loving and painful, as they struggle to resolve numerous problems and personality clashes. Bobby (Scott Balentine) is Greg's (Matthew Granger) partner; but Ramon (Eric Davis) catches him in the kitchen and makes love to him. Bobby is now carrying the burden of guilt. Arthur (Kelly Hedges) and Perry (David Vass) are celebrating fourteen years of being together. Buzz (Paul Vitali) is the ringleader; doesn't seem to be connected to anyone; nor is John (D. M. Johnson). The relationships among the group are not as smooth and effortless as they might be and conflicts are soon evident.

Their initial vacation is during Memorial Day weekend; later they gather for Fourth of July and Labor Day. At this point, James (D. M. Johnson) appears. He is very ill. His brother attends to him, but so also do the others. There are many poignant scenes as they discuss life as they know it. Bobby is confused as he ponders his attraction for Ramon and his committed love for Greg. The only stability in the group is the relationship between Arthur and Perry.

There is no real resolution, for their relationships to one another change as would the images in a kaleidoscope; but the result is that the audience had a poignant view of love, compassion, and pain. Susan Claassen directed.

The dialog is restrained and totally tasteful, but there is one passionate scene involved and some nudity. Taken in context, it was not at all vulgar, but entirely in good taste. It is not advisable to take children.

This particular production took place at the Waterfront Playhouse at Mallory Dock in Key West over New Years. Should you run into it anywhere else, check it out. It is worthy of your consideration.