novamber 3.2000 *
▼
WANTED!
Love hurts
New play has plenty of queer angles
hut also some deadly ones
-
by
A ndy M angels
_
A FR IC A N A M ER IC A N
H EALTH C O A LITIO N , INC.
PH OTO BY BENI
WANTED!
A FRICA N A M ERICA N
CAY AN D BISEXUAL
MEN!
f you think love is a killer of intimacy in
relationships, you haven’t been sleeping
with the right killers.
This seems to be one of the messages in
the new dark comedy from triangle produc
tions! titled Unidentified Human Remains and
the True Nature o f Love. And when I say dark,
prepare for a blood-stained stage even before
the lights go down.
T h e setting for the play is Edm onton,
A lberta, a city in w hich a serial killer o f
women m ight make th e news, but such sor
did events don’t yet touch the lives o f the
characters. David (N ich olas Bu rilini-P rice)
is a gay former television actor now making
his living as a waiter.
He lives, Will & Grace-style, with ex-girl
friend Candy (Laura Faye Sm ith), a book edi
tor. David’s oldest friend is Bemie (Spencer
Conway), a troubled straight man whose mar
riage is on the rocks and who seems to get into
a lot of bloody bar fights. His other friend is
Benita (Michelle Maida), a goth-girl tarot card
reader and dominatrix-for-hire.
Into their lives come three other characters:
Jerri (Torrey Cornwell), a lesbian at Candy’s
gym who has a crush on her; Robert (Jefferson
L. Davis), a bartender who also has his eye on
Candy; and Kane (Gabe Harmon), an adorable
young busboy at David’s job who is struggling
with secret impulses.
As the story progresses— narrated by
Benita, using horrific urban legends to
introduce scenes— David is tom between
his infatuation with B em ie and with Kane,
avoiding his pain through anonymous sexu
al trysts in a park. Candy is drawn into her
first lesbian affair, with Jerri, but also feels
the need to affirm her heterosexuality in a
shallow relationship with Robert.
But as the love/lust triangles become more
overpowering, so too does the element of dan
ger. It becomes clear that many of the people
are hiding secrets, and Candy and David soon
realize one of their circle indeed might be the
serial killer— and one of them could be the
next victim.
Written by Canadian playwright Brad
Fraser, Unidentified Human Remains is a
macabre change of pace for triangle. Multiple
references to gory murders, as well as several
bits of on-stage violence and a gunshot, might
From left: Spencer Conway,
Nicholas Burilini-Price
and Michelle Maida
are caught in a web of intrigue
be difficult for some theatergoers. But in the
wake of popular serial killer movies such as
Seven, The Silence o f the Lambs and The Cell,
there is probably an audience for this foray
into darker territory.
Director Don Homs staging is impressive
and benefits from effective lighting by Jeffrey
D. Woods and Mark Bauch, especially given
that most of the cast is on stage throughout the
entire production. Although the complex set
and constant presence of the actors is initially
jarring, audience members quickly will find
themselves intrigued when they realize each
character’s story continues even when the spot
light is not on them.
Burilini-Price is a little too physically im
posing as David for us to be concerned about
any on-stage threat to him, but his wittily
sarcastic attitude and reactions to the moral
quandaries of the story are spot-on. Cornwell
is a delicious dyke, both a stereotype and an
individual at once. Davis is given one o f the
least likable roles, but he makes the most of
it (and looks awfully damn cute doing so),
while Harmon gives just the right measure of
naivete and uncertainty to Kane.
Clues to the identity of the killer are
tipped early on by both the script and the
actor playing the character. I’m torn as to
whether this was an effective choice, but
the production certainly manages the
choice well.
Unidentified Human Remains is a strong
and engrossing play, well-cast and nicely
directed. Audience members who don’t like
violent themes probably should stay away— as
should those who might be offended by semi
nudity and some frank sexual dialogue— but
fans of theater of the macabre would do well
to make a date to see it. j n
U nidentified H uman R emains and the
T rue N ature of L ove runs through Nov. 11
at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 S.E . Belmont St.
For tickets call the box office, 503-239-5919,
or Fastixx.
A ndy M angels is a longtime Portland
entertainment writer with three books and hundreds
o f comic books and magazine articles to his credit.
You can write him at AMangelsSW@aol.com.
Come meet other African American
Men like yourself and discuss real
issues that affect you and your
community. BROTHER 2 BROTHER
is an organization dedicated to
sharing the latest information through
support groups for African American
Gay and Bisexual Men. Life’s tough
est decisions don’t have to be faced
alone! If you’re an African American
Male and are Gay or Bisexual contact
Stephan at (503) 413-1850. All infor
mation discussed is private and will
be kept completely confidential.
Sponsored by the African American
Health Coalition, Inc.
iP o rtfa n cf—fr o m ifie
o e s/p o i n i o f view .
IfH p v ïS
Enjoy Sunday brunch, lu nck or dinner cruises on the Portland Sp irit.
Perfect for ou t-o f-to w n guests. C o m m itm en t C erem on ies,
group bookring and private yacbt rental available.
Portland
F o r re s e rv a tio n s and in fo r m a tio n
p lease ca ll 5 0 3 - 2 2 4 - 3 9 0 0 or 8 0 0 - 2 2 4 - 3 9 0 1 .
Boole o n - l i n e at ww w .p o r tla n d s p ir it .c o m
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1 hank sgiving an J holiday cruises.
G i f t C e r t if i c a t e s make great gifts
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