TRICKS OF THE TRADES OPENS AT THE DUPLEX January 8th

How much of a gay man's identity is tied up in his sexual activity? That's one of the questions asked in TRICKS OF THE TRADE - a harsh new drama about four young gay men, ages 17-22, during one very, very long night at West Village mix and meet bar. A show called "Funny, timely and important," and "'The Boys in the Band' for this generation" by William M. Hoffman, author of "As Is,"

Written and directed by John Capo, TRICKS OF THE TRADE will have its World Premiere on January 8, 2005 at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre, at 61 Christopher Street.

As the evening begins, 22 year-old Joey is aglow with having found the person he believes he was meant to spend the rest of his life with. A situation which he thinks means the end of numerous one-night stands and various sexual shenanigans with strangers. (As he says of his new love, "Five weeks [together] is like forever.")

However, instead of sharing his joy, the reactions of Joey's bar-hopping friends range from skepticism to disbelief to, in the case of Tommy, (with whom Joey has a history), bitterness and anger. Deciding to put this so-called true love to the test, Tommy bets that Joey can't stay at the bar until closing time without picking up a stranger for a quickie.

As the evening goes on, while Joey tries to resist the lure of the numerous hard bodies that come his way (some sent over by his friends, some not); each of the group begins to look at their "can't see past Friday night" lifestyle, and more often than not, doesn't much like what they see. By the end of the evening, friendships will be tested and relationships will be torn asunder as those who sometimes look for love (and sex) in all the wrong places, all too often end up facing a sobering reality.

The cast of TRICKS OF THE TRADE features David Ellner, Jason Mitchell, Tyson Murphy, Jeremy O'Keefe, Chris O'Neill and Benjamin Sands.

John Capo has directed productions in New York Theater for ten years, including works by Woody Allen, Aaron Sorkin, Eve Enlser, Christopher Durang, and his most recent effort, Frank Gilroy's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama The Subject Was Roses, which played to critical acclaim at the 2005 Midtown International Theatre Festival. Mr. Capo is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Chorographers and a graduate of SUNY Purchase. More info on Mr. Capo, TRICKS OF THE TRADE and other projects he is working on can be found at www.johncapoproductions.com.

Running through February 12th, TRICKS OF THE TRADE will be performed at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre, located at 61 Christopher Street, on Seventh Avenue South. The show will be performed on Saturdays at 9:30pm. Tickets are $12.00, plus a two-drink minimum. Reservations: (212) 255-5438.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE is a drama about friendship, need, and the desire to end one's loneliness, even if only for a moment. But what each of these young men find along the way may not be what they expect.

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