Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 19, 2004)
novemher 13.20Ü4 * 41 THEATER ................. ▼................. hat do Nazi Germany and George W. Bush’s America have in common? More than you may want to know, suggests an upcoming prixluction by Theatre Vertigo. The play in question is A Bright Room Called Day, written in 1987 by Tony Kushner, the gay author of Pulitzer Prize winner Angels in Ameri- ca. Using poetic language and stark imagery, he compares the rise of Hitler and fascism in early 1930s Germany with Ronald Reagan’s ultra- conservative presidency in the 1980s. In his notes, however, Kushner encourages theater companies to update the play to reflect current political situations. Theatre Vertigo has stayed true to most of the play, especially the scenes that depict a group of German artists and societal misfits whose lives and freedoms are threatened by the rise of fascism. In the original version, a modern-day American Jewish woman named Zillah interrupts the 1930s storyline to rant about Reagan. But in this production, she takes fire at our current president, evoking not-so-subtle parallels between Dubya and Hitler. Gary Norman, an outspoken gay Portland actor with a prominent role in the play, recent ly met with Just Out to discuss Bright Room and its implications for queers. Save the country W N orman is a hairdresser at London Influence downtown. His previous theater credits include What the Butler Sate and Christmas with the Crawfords at Triangle Productions and a recent production of Man of La Mancha by Lakewtxxl Theatre Company in Lake Oswego. In Bright Room, Norman portrays Baz, a member of a leftist circle of friends and an Upon landing the role of Baz, Norman did research on fascism and the treatment of homo sexuals in 1930s Germany. Tony Kushner parallels Nazi Germany and GOP America S B by tephen T l a ir Gary Norman (left, with Julie Starbird) stars in A Bright Room Called Day as Baz, a persecuted homosexual under a fascist regime. Sound familiar? employee at the Berlin Institute for Human Sexuality. Prior to the rise of the Nazis, Baz enjoyed a thriving gay culture in Berlin, filled with nightclubs and drag bars. But the emerging Nazi movement condemned homosexuals because they did not reproduce the Aryan race. Norman likened Baz’s plight to the strug gles that face queer Americans under Bush’s leadership. “During an interrogation, my character is flat out told that they’re building a concentra tion camp for people like him because they knew he was gay,” he said. “Now we’ve had this twisted measure wanting to ban gay marriage, which I think is ridiculous. I got married this year. Bush wants to amend the Constitution. He wants to write discrimination in it against gay people. I’ve heard that the evangelical Bible-thumper movement is getting bigger and bigger. They’re so hypocritical and hateful. They’re the most un-Christian Christians I’ve ever seen or heard.” Prior to starting this production, Norman’s only exposure to Kushner’s work was through H BO’s miniseries of Angels in America. He fell in love with Bright Rocnn on his first reading. “It’s beautiful and thought-provoking,” he said. “I knew I had to be a part of the produc tion. I do like doing musicals, hut it’s not my first choice. I’d rather do something that’s got some meat on it. If I wasn’t cast, I was going to volunteer to help costume it.” heatre Vertigo considered producing A Bright R am (Called Day last season hut decided to pass it by. “It made the cut this year," Norman said, “which is pretty interesting given what’s going on in the world, or this country' anyway.” Bright R am is no period piece about prob lems that are over and done with. “It really points out that what’s going on there could he going on in any city in this country right now,” Nonnan explained. “It doesn’t have to be Berlin in 1933.” It’s mind-blowing, Nonnan said, that Hitler’s rise to power and his crimes against humanity were ever allowed to happen “If our country continues to go the way it is going, people will start to see the similarities.” True, Bright Rtxm isn’t the most cheerful holiday play you could drum up. But it’s certain ly one of your best shots to see provocative and substantial theater this season. “We’re hoping that people have seen enough Christmas Carols and SantaLand Diaries and they’ll take a chance and come see some thing fresh,” Norman said. jH A B right R com C alled D ay plays 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday frcm Nov. 26 to Jan. 1, 2005, at Theater Theatre, 3430 S.E . Belmtmt St. Tickets are $15 frcm www.theatrevertigo.org. S tephen B lair is a cat lover", a Jrmi Mitchell fanatic and a Portland free-lance tenter. You can unite him at cleo97206@yaha).com. 0 Corner of Sandy Blvd. & N E 64th 3106 N E 64th Portland, O R 97213 503-280-8080 fT' 4 . bTy. gifts fo r Romance in an ‘L iegant Setting O Ü 1 L e a r n W D ance 5 0 3 -2 3 6 -5 1 2 9 Cha Cha Rumba Country Swing Waltz Foxtrot w w w .o u td a n c in g .in fo ✓ Casual Dining Piano Lounge Gam e Room Open 4:00 Daily Dance to be held SATURDAY NOVEMBER 8:00PM Metro Police Club (PPAA) 618 SE Alder TICKETS $15 available at Music Millennium 3158 E Burnside *801 NW 23rd MWTHWflUr PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT ROSE CITY GAY FREEDOM BAND 503 790-2170 www.rcgfb.org FOR BEST RESULTS SHAKE VIGOROUSLY 120 N W Third Avenue, Portland, OR 9 7 2 0 9 • (503) 2 2 4 -3 2 8 5 • www hobospdx com Parking Validated Smart Park Davis & Front 9
