Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 1989)
THE OPEN DOOR NEW AGE CENTER Matthew Broderick, Brian Kerwin, Anne Bancroft and Harvey Fierstein. Arnold Beckoff hits the screen Not the story of all gay men, Torch Song Trilogy is a legitimate story of one gay man. All of us can find something to relate to in it. the story is set firmly in the pre-AIDS ’70s, their argument resonates in this, our age of universal bereavement. orch Song Trilogy, a landmark on the Torch Song Trilogy tells anyone who will Broadway stage, retains that status on the screen. Harvey Fierstein has done a masterful, listen that gay people can love and hurt like anyone else. It gets the message across with almost miraculous job of adapting his play, humor, as well as feeling. The film is not a adding scenes while cutting the length by more public relations tool, but rather an unsanitized, than a third, yet leaving virtually nothing out. uncompromising look at gay life in the ’70s. The politically correct crowd will still find The camera goes, albeit briefly and unreveal- something to bitch about, and some gay men ingly, into the backroom of a bar; and the gay think their own story is the only one that belongs characters aren’t perfect or blameless, although none of them are villains, either. As an actor Harvey Fierstein sews up an Oscar nomination before the opening credits, but at times director Paul Bogart should have made him tone down his performance for the on the screen; but as a picture of a specific screen. When your face is 30 feet wide, you person in a specific time and place. Torch Song don’t have to do much with it to make a point. Trilogy could hardly be better. Anne Bancroft, a scenery-chewer from way Fierstein wrote the semi-autobiographical back, rises to the occasion. I felt she was mak play as a star vehicle for himself, and that it ing the mother more hateful than necessary, but remains, with a couple of drag numbers thrown I was having so many flashbacks to my own in to make it an even greater tour de force. mother it’ll take a year of therapy before I can Fierstein plays Arnold Beckoff, known to begin to evaluate her performance objectively. audiences at the Club East Fourth as “ Virginia Let me plead the Fifth Amendment on this Ham.” He’s the marrying kind— “ I want more whole mother-son area. out o f life than to see a pretty face and sit down Matthew Brockerick, who went on to star on it” — and is after the same kind of family his dom after playing David on the stage, is well parents had — but with two husbands instead of cast as Alan. Brian Kerwin, who looks like a husband and wife. Nick Nolte’s younger, slimmer brother, repeats Arnold meets Ed (Brian Kerwin), a hand his stage role as Ed. Like all the male characters some but dull bisexual who keeps his gay side they serve merely as foils for Fierstein, and they hidden from everyone but his tricks. Arnold acquit themselves well. wants to build a life around Ed, but Ed can Oscar-wise, Fierstein could repeat his Tony barely find room in his life for Arnold. One of triumph with writing and acting awards. His Arnold’s co-drags, Bertha Venation (Charles scripting is better than his performance here, Pierce), comments, “ Just once I’d like to see a but I wouldn’t quibble if he won for both. bisexual who lived with his boyfriend and Not the story of all gay men. Torch Song snuck out to see his girlfriend on the sly.” Sure Trilogy is a legitimate story of one gay man. All enough, Ed leaves Arnold for a woman. Laurel of us can find something to relate to in it. If (Karen Young). nothing else, it will make you hold your head Another man then comes into Arnold’s life. higher as you leave the theater. Alan (Matthew Broderick) is a 21-year-old Calling a movie a “ must-see” makes it sound hustler-tumed-model who’s tired of being too much like homework. Put Torch Song treated like just another pretty face. He pursues Trilogy on top of your “ want-to-see” list. • Arnold, who finally gives in with two stipulations: “ A) I want children, and B) if any one asks, I ’m the pretty one.” Arnold and Alan settle in and apply to adopt a child. Two years later they learn that David (Eddie Castrodad) will be placed with them. “ H e’s 15, troubled, abused. He’s also gay.” The couple moves to a larger apartment in order to accommodate their new son. As they’re moving in . Alan effectively commits suicide by trying to stop a fag-bashing. The scene isn’t graphic, but its impact stays with the viewer. Finally, Arnold’s mother (Anne Bancroft) comes to visit. Ma has never approved of Arnold’s homosexuality, and he’s never allowed her the illusion that it’s a “ phase” he’s going through. When she refuses to accept that his “ widowhood” is as legitimate as hers, he finally tells her to respect him or get out. While B Y r S T E V E W A R R E N Immmk Meditation and Chat with Ishvara Sunday 10 a.m. Wednesday 7:30 p.m. Private Chats (readings) by appointment ISHVARA, the spiritual leader of the center, speaks from the Oneness, assisting humanity in its unfolding process and bringing simplicity, humor and freedom to all those who share his teachings. SURVIVING THE AIDS CRISIS A series of eight-week groups providing tools for dealing with the AIDS crisis. Led by Phoenix Rising professional counseling staff. $80 per workshop. Scholarships available. Advanced registration and a $10 deposit are required for each group. Books • New Age Music Subliminal Tapes Greeting Cards • Jewelry and more • STRATEGIES FOR SURVIVAL (503) 994-2488 Open Daily 1644 N.E. Highway 101 Lincoln City, OR 97367 Presto Photo The objectives of this series for gay m en are to b etter u n d erstan d w hat health ir ; help you explore how changes in key aspects of your life may affect your health; learn a planning process for im plem enting these changes; evaluate your personal risk for contracting AIDS and b e tter recognize th e th reat of AIDS to ourselves and o u r c o m munity. Starts Tuesday, January 24. Quality Full Service Photo Finishing Reprints Enlargements Slides Black & White One Hour Service available on most color processing Celebrating new ownership Say you saw us In Just Out. NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT SAFE SEX IS, WHY C A N T YOU DO IT? This is a co m m o n problem that m any p eo p le face. This series provides a safe, supportive, n o n -ju d g em en tal en v iro n m en t and positive tools for behavior change. For m en only. Led by Art Wilcox, M.A. Begins Thursday, February 2. PHOENIX 6362 SW Capitol Hwy in Hillsdale r s ir ( H U G O * S IfStlAW/GAT s i t v r i f i s n't For more information call 245-0916 223-8299. just (tut • 23 • January 1989