Playwright: Martin Casella. At: Pride Films & Plays at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: 773-327-5252; www.stage773.com; $25-$30. Runs through: Nov. 10
"What would have happened if I'd kissed him?" "Would things be different if I hadn't let him leave?" "Why do I feel he wanted something more from me?" Most of us have asked these questions in hindsight about a particular moment with a particular man ( or woman ). This play, in a substantial way, addresses those questions.
Jinx and Griff have been best friends from boyhood through adolescence, young adulthood and into their forties. Now living far apart, they stay connected via telephone several times a year. ( Internet communications aren't mentioned. ) Jinx is gay and Griff is straight, married and a father. After Jinx's longtime partner dies suddenly, Griff joins Jinx on a buddy trip to the English Lake District where a lot of things come out in the wash, Griff himself chief among them.
Playwright Martin Casella uses flashbacks going back to boyhood to tell the story, and it becomes apparent that Jinx and Griff have had many of those "what if" moments. A series of revelations, mostly by Griff, finally brings Jinx and Griff into each other's arms and to personal fulfillment, one presumes. The play's title refers mainly to Griff as the one who finally opens up about himself and makes choices that might revive his moribund emotional life.
This world premiere is part of Pride Films & Plays' ( PFP ) ongoing commitment to seek out, develop and produce quality scripts on LGBT themes. I support that commitment, but nonetheless I have issues with this particular play. Some issues are simple and secondary. For instance, the English Lake District setting is an arbitrary choice of which Casella makes little use. There needs to be a reason for a setting so specific and so far from home ( Griff lives on the West Coast ). As it is, any old cabin in the woods would serve.
Much more difficult is the fact that Jinx and Griff are so ordinary. They're not bad guys, but they're not special. I'm a little exasperated that it took Griff so damn long to face himself and I wonder precisely what has kept Jinx attracted to him all these years, especially as Griff has used several anti-gay crutches along the way. They need not be as witty as Oscar Wilde characters, which would be false to whom they are, but they do need to have an elevation of spirit and passion that lifts them above the commonplace and serves to inspire viewers.
PFP co-founder David Zak ably has directed Patrick Gannon ( Jinx ) and Patrick Rybarczyk ( Griff ), supported by Nick Stockwell and Alanda Coon ( in the least-rewarding role ) as their mates. They are sincere and smoothly competent but only Stockwell has vivacity in a play needing more color.