The Ross Valley Players Present THE BOYS NEXT DOOR; Runs 3/19-4/18

When the Ross Valley Players' play selection committee decided on Tom Griffin's "The Boys Next Door" as one of the productions for the 2009-2010 season, they had no way of knowing that the production could be linked to a current controversy about a popular TV show.

"The program committee was absolutely aware that the play choice might be controversial and/or offensive to current ideas of political correctness, but we decided that it was a risk we were willing to take for RVP to present this entertaining and insightful play," said Lynn Gutstadt, member of the Ross Valley Players board of directors.

Originally produced off-Broadway in 1987, "The Boys Next Door" is a comedy about four mentally challenged men living in one apartment, trying to make their way in a complicated and humorous world. Their social worker, Jack becomes overwhelmed with his job and responsibilities. During the course of the play is Jack is conflicted and trying to decide if he should choose another career.

About a month before the Ross Valley Players March 19 opening of "The Boys Next Door," an episode of the Fox animated comedy "Family Guy," became the subject of public criticism and debate. The episode features teenage character Chris on a date with Ellen, a teen girl with Down Syndrome.

"Family Guy" and it's creator, writer Seth MacFarlane came under fire after former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, columnists, editorial writers, political pundits and the public condemned the episode for its depiction of the Ellen character, portrayed by 39-year old Andrea Fay Friedman.

The debate took an unexpected twist when Friedman, an actress and public spokesperson with Down Syndrome, defended the episode. In public statements she said she was not offended by her "Family Guy" character, adding that she was happy to be part of the show. "It's not really an insult," she said in a New York Times interview. "I was doing my role, I'm an actor. It was my first time doing a voice-over, and I had fun."

Ross Valley Players director Kim Bromley, a resident of San Rafael, sees "The Boys Next Door" as timeless, especially its themes of identity, community, brokenness and healing.

"The writing of the play works best if set in the time in which it was written, since issues of mental deficiency and illness are under constant re-evaluation by the medical community and the public," said Bromley. "We're keeping the time of the play in the 1980s."

"Jack's descriptions of the 'boys' are still relevant to how people in group homes are described today, but some of the phrasing may be specific to the 1980s," said Bromley.

"It's interesting to me that the subject of retardation and the actual word "retard" is very much in the media now," said Bromley. "Rahm Emanuel's characterization of house Democrats as 'retards' and Sarah Palin's response turned out to be terrific grist for my mill!"

"And then there is the 'Family Guy,' which recently came under fire for the portrayal of a Downs Syndrome teenager in a scene poking fun at Sarah Palin. Similarly, the animated comedy 'South Park' has two characters who are disabled by presumably neurological disorders. These characters are what children of my generation might have called 'retards,' but technically are not retarded in the medical sense."

"In 'The Boys Next Door' the character of Norman is technically retarded. Yet, Norman has a job at a donut shop and he has a girlfriend. Which, ironically is more than we can say for Jack, their social worker and the so-called 'normal' one in the play. Norman lives independently, cooks, cleans, does chores and has friendships. Norman will never be the CEO of Exxon, but this highly recommends him as a human being, in my opinion," said Bromley.

In her Director's Notes for the production, Bromley writes: "This isn't the first time I've directed this play. As with all things in life, the more you do something the more you learn, the more you discover how little you actually know. The 'boys' have taught me that it's okay to use the word 'retarded' as long as you use it correctly. They've taught me to laugh because my heart tells me to, and to not suppress a laugh because suppressing a laugh is what's in vogue."

IF YOU GO:
"The Boys Next Door"
March 19 to April 18, 2010
Ross Valley Players Barn Theater
Marin Art & Garden Center
30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. at Lagunitas, Ross, CA.
Tickets: $15-$25
Box Office: 415-456-9555
Website: www.rossvalleyplayers.com

Need more San Francisco / Bay Area Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...