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
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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
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