Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (July 20, 2001)
juiy 20. 2001 ' jM t hen I agreed to write this review, I had not yet seen the play. 1 didn’t know there were nasty words involved and beds and sex and stuff. As perhaps the biggest prude in Portland, I’m finding this task quite a challenge. 1 suppose I could have thought through what kind of play might be named The Dyke and the Pom Star, hut I’m a notoriously simple thinker, and the implications did not hit me. This is a play attempting to explore our complex relationships with sexuality and desire. It’s also a play about image and reality and the confusion that results when those boundaries are mushy. But mostly this is a play about beds and sex and stuff. The actors bravely march into territory usually left to the real pom stars— brightly using the word “fuck” a lot, simulating masturbation, going into excru ciating detail about their sexual fantasies and taking their tops off. It seemed an uncomfortable fit. (Note: My partner, Mary, thinks this is an uncomfortable projection.) Not to say the women didn’t do a good job. With the excep tion of a few opening night jit ters resulting in dropped books, rolling oranges and a missed cue or two, both actors jumped into their roles with great energy. The dyke is played by Jenni Green, who, although looking much less dykey than all the dykes I know, revels in the humor of her role. Torrey Cornwell gives the pom star just the right amount of bravado and vulnerability. Karen Tate’s direction is clean and to the point. The set and lighting are simple and help the story progress, although a little more differ entiation between one bedroom and the next would have been helpful. (Again, my partner vehemently dis agrees with the bedroom differentia tion statement.) The script by Bay la Travis, however, left me frustrated and dissatisfied, and that’s a state ment with no sexual innuendo intended! The story begins with the dyke’s rather lengthy confession of a long term video obsession with one partic ular pom star. This involves lots of the aforementioned nasty words along with a little preparatory masturbation. Next is the improbable yet pre dictable dyke’s meeting of the same pom star at a party where fantasies are revealed, a little gentle whipping takes place and oranges are dropped. This party was my mother’s worst nightmare when she learned her little girl was a lesbian, I might add. (Mom, I can assure you 1 have not yet been to this party.) After the improbable meeting comes the even more improbable mutual attraction phase, complete with lots more dirty words, a bedroom scene and, yes, the aforementioned baring of breasts. Then, guess what? The pom star isn’t really ready for intimacy! Wow, can you believe it? Gee, it never would have occurred to me that a woman working in a tradi dares to raise titillating issues by C a t h r y n C u s h in g AN EVENING W ITH T H E LEG EN D A RY P R E -P U N K , PRO TO R A P P ER PO ET Patti Smith SUNDAY AUG 5 CRYSTAL BALLROOM *2 0 ADVANCE • 9:O O PM • A LL A G ES •ncwne at all tickctmabtir locations on char « by phcm s 03- m < m 400 OR ONUKt A3 UAML TLCMTIAASTL ROOM SUBJECT TO GCRMCl CHAR« TICKETS ALSO AT CRYSTAL BALLROOM BOX OtTlCt tionally sexually exploitative field might have some problems with intimacy! This, however, sets the stage for some more fantasies courtesy of the pom star and much discussion about the public vs. private persona. The whole story winds up with a little stalking and more boundary confusion. OK, I know that sounds a bit harsh. I found the story predictable to the point of yawns and the attempt to raise the interest level with a little lesbian titillation insulting. Who really spends that much time on beds and sex and stuff? Where was the gentle whip ping at my last potluck? But because of the skill and willingness of the cast and crew, this slim vehicle did become the instigator of some interesting conversations and is certainly worth seeing. I appreciate tri angle productions! exploring taboos and daring to raise issues surrounding our sexuality. My hope is that The Dyke and the Pom Star will inspire many budding lesbians to write their own plays about what is real to them and that, through them, I finally will be able to see something on stage that is real to me. By the way, my partner gave the actors, director and producer a standing ovation. She also liked the play lots better than I did. 1 think she has been to some of those par ties. Note to self: Talk about parties at next counseling visit. JH T he D yke invites you to an FASHIOM DANTE’S Sunday July 22 • 8pm at One SW 3rd on Burnside 03 221-0431 wiw.wjdi vade pot.com F LA M B E QUEER NIGHT @LE H A P P Y MONDAYS 9PM TO 1AM 1101 NW 16TH • 21 & OVER • 503.226.1258 a n d th e P o r n S t a r plays through July 28 at Theater! Theatre!, 3430 S.E . Belmont St. Tickets are $19 at the door or $17 in advance from 503-239-5919 or Fastixx. CATHRYN C u sh in g is a plain old-fashioned Portland lesbian who used to be a member of the Fallen Angels. Vacation Travel Planners (Formerly Downtown Travel Services) Presents * G ay G am es V I S e m in a r S atu rd ay A u g 11, 9:30-ll:30am NW N eigh borh ood C u ltu ral C enter 1819 NW Everett $5.00 registration fee donated to Team Oregon (Pre-registration required — our last seminar was stand in g ro o m o n ly !) Call Rip For All Your Travel Needs: (503) 223-1100 • (800) 357-3194 email: gavtraveKdTplanvacationtravel.com www.iPlanVacationTravel.com MONQUICOM C L u .^ .J U m *3 7 W estover H eights C L I N I C Offering general internal medicine and excelling in sexual health care Scrcincj the community for 17 yea ro 2330 NW Flanders Suite 207 5 0 3 -2 2 6 -6 6 7 8 Music M illennium CD’ 1969 R e c o r d s , T a p e s a n d NW Portland 23rd & NW Johnson ( 5 0 3 ) 248-0163 s S in c e East Portland 32nd & E Burnsid (503)231-8926 Rock« Folk« Jazz« Country« Soundtracks« Soul« Gospel« New Age« World« Bluegrass« Blues« Easy Listening« Oldies« Local« Cajun/Zydeco« Lounge« Rap« Broadway Cast« Classical and Much More!
