"Facing East": A Heavy Cross to Bear

SHOW INFORMATION:  Facing East will be performed at New Covenant MCC Oaklands Presbyterian Church, 14301 Laurel-Bowie Road (MD 197), Laurel, MD on Tuesday, June 17 at 8PM, and at MCC Baltimore, 401 West Monument Street, Baltimore, MD, on Wednesday, June 18 at 8PM.  The show is being presented by Spotlighters Theatre (but NOT performed there).  For tickets and information, call 410-752-1225 or go to www.spotlighters.org 

 ◊◊◊◊ 1/2 out of five.  1 hour, 15 minutes, no intermission.  Adult language, situations and mild sexuality.

 

Beyond what has been much in the news lately, Mormons on the whole are a very devout group, with firm beliefs and ideals, and a passion for life, the afterlife and every step in between.  It is that aspect – Mormonism – that lifts Carol Lynn Pearson's play Facing East well beyond similarly themed plays.  This play, like many others, deals with the aftermath of a suicide by a gay man, but what separates it is its balancing act between being didactic and, forgive the pun, preachy in its religion, and treating the whole subject with a sense of real grief through a filter of religion.  The play, which opened its local tour (and Baltimore premiere) last night, strike a pretty near perfect balance between teaching us about the Mormon religion, trying to teach acceptance for the gay life style, and all while trying very hard not to get mired down in over-sentimentality. 

The truth is, this very moving piece of theatre (bring your Kleenex) succeeds because it takes on all three aspects head on and unflinchingly, even if it tips its hat to all of the usual stereotypes.  The deceased was, of course, a beautiful Mormon young man, devout to the point of almost obsession, but kind, with a sense of humor, honesty and love that is pretty near hard to believe can all be found in one guy.  Of course, memory is much more positive in times of grief.  He grew up in a near perfect Mormon household, with a father who is the pillar of the community and host of a nationally syndicated radio show based on his being a great father; the mother is also near perfect, doing everything by the Mormon book, raising the perfect family.  And naturally, a nod to the gay lifestyle for the good – he used words like "fabulous" and loves Celine Dion – and for the bad – there are searing moments devoted to The Gay Agenda and sickened pauses as gay sex is discussed and contemplated.  In short, to level the playing field, Pearson gives her audience a bit of what they expect to hear. 

But what really makes this short play work are the moments you don't expect – a dad trying to talk about what makes a good marriage with his son as a boy, only to get his own words and beliefs thrown back at him by the son's grieving lover, the shocking realization that the parents seem to be the only ones who don't know their son as a gay man, and many more.  Of course, the best written play can fail without good direction and strong casting.  Facing East has all of that. 

Director Fuzz Roark has directed this piece with a light touch, giving the words room to breathe as often without onstage action as with it.  And we should be thankful for that, as he has also similarly reined in his cast, never allowing them to get too far into melodrama, but rather guiding them toward honest, deeply felt performances.  Roark's subtle lighting design, and Michael Spellman's simple set and sound design add a nice frame to a picture that is all about family and nothing about big budget.

As Andrew's surviving lover, Marcus, David C. Allen gives a moving performance, which vacillates nicely between abject grief and sweet memorial.  His flashes of anger and immediate grief are a sharp contrast to his otherwise down-played style here, and that really works.  In the difficult flashback sequences (difficult because they happen sometimes mid-sentence and without warning) Mr. Allen conveys a genuine love for his partner that is both sweet and realistic.  Tony Viglione, as Andrew, is absolutely riveting in a role that is deceptively challenging.  Among other things, he spends long stretches unblinking and staring at his own grave in silence.  Then, he must age, through memory, from nine years old to The Day Before his death at 24.  He is convincing throughout, affecting the mannerisms and tones of the different ages, but not creating odd caricatures – a wise choice.  I have to say, too, that both of these fine actors have really pushed the boundaries in playing gay characters here.  I've seen them both in a variety of gay roles and both are in top form here, portraying real gay men and not the sad stereotypes that perpetuate the kind of hatred and self-loathing that cause men like Andrew to take their own lives. 

Sherrionne Brown plays Andrew's mother, a mountain of a role, with every fiber of her being.  It is this role that really gives Facing East its edge.  She is a woman full of surprises and contradiction.  Ms. Brown plays her full out, in a touching performance that is particularly well suited to the small venues that the show will play.  Hers is the kind of performance best viewed up close – much of it all in her eyes.  Then, too, are her anguished screams of despair, and moans of self-pity.  But nowhere is her performance sadder than when she admits that perhaps her entire life was a waste.  Frank Vince as Andrew's father also gives a heartfelt performance, made all the more challenging because he often has to go back and forth between gut-wrenching guilt and streaming tears and the smiles and warmth of memories of being a father to the true love of his life, his children.  His tears come honestly and without pretense, and his piteous bellows of grief are moving for their sheer bold honesty.  We, as his audience, grieve with this man, and feel for him, but we also pity him for missing the important signs.  Mostly, though, we are glad we are not in either parent's shoes. 

As June celebrates Gay Pride throughout the US and the world, it is the smaller things, like the lovely one act, Facing East, that really punctuate how far we've come and how far we have yet to go.