Shear Madness.______
Theater of special interest to GLBT audiences probably is not, in itself, a reason to exist, although that may depend on who the actors are and how much of their clothing they remove during the course of a show. Be that as it may, the following dozen shows between now and December are on GLBT themes, or involve noted GLBT artists.
Thrill Me—This two-man musical about 1924 Chicago thrill killers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb is a lyrical examination of the tortured psychological and sexual relationships of the two young men; Bailiwick Repertory, through Oct. 8.
Tennessee Speaks in Tongues—This is a parody and surreal examination of the life and work of Tennessee Williams, written by New Orleans author Robert Tsarov and set in that city Tennessee loved. The critic for the New Orleans Times-Picayune said the work sends up Williams and his 'penchant for poetic prose, shocking violence and hot-house sensuality ... culminating in a carnal, horrific but quite logical conclusion.' Presented as part of the Rhinoceros Theater Festival at Prop Theatre, through Oct. 28.
Clay—It's a one-man hip-hop musical written and performed by recent Northwestern graduate Matt Sax and developed by Sax with help from Eric Rosen, artistic director of About Face Theatre; presented by About Face and Lookingglass Theatre Company at Lookingglass; through Nov. 19.
The Bitter Tears of Petra Van Kant—A stage adaptation of the film by gay German writer/actor/director Werner Ranier Fassbinder, who burned himself up in a blaze of prolific work, sex and drugs. This is one of his rare—yet still penetrating—explorations of the female side of the human equation; Trap Door Theatre, through Nov. 4.
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs—The most autobiographical of all the successful plays by closeted author William Inge, and yet the work doesn't address his sexuality as he uses his perspective as a boy to view the world of his parents; American Theatre Company, October 2-30. Inge's first big success, Come Back, Little Sheba, more suffused with the sexual tension for which he was famous, also is on the boards at Shattered Globe Theatre at Victory Gardens Greenhouse, through Oct. 21.
Shear Madness—Wherever it's played, this ditzy, sassy, smart, audience-interactive and tres gay whodunit set in a beauty parlor has established long-run records. It did in Chicago the first time around in the 1980s-1990s, and now its authors are mounting an all-new production to inaugurate the 250-seat theater on the lower level of State Street's gargantuan Chicago Theatre. Open run, from Sept. 25.
Caged Dames—The Big House, women behind bars, innocence wronged, pure evil, men in drag ... . It's all here in David Cerda's new musical, inspired by 1950s cinema noir prison flicks. Caged Dames is the first song-and-dance show in four years from Cerda, creator of Poseidon: An Upside Down Musical. Hell in a Handbag Productions at Bailiwick Repertory, Oct. 18-19.
A Room with a View—What IS it with these closeted homosexual authors? I think it's the romantic aspirations—the love longing that always eluded them. Yeah, well. This romantic E. M Forster novel achieved fame and popularity through its film adaptation, and now there's a stage version thanks to Lifeline Theatre, which has an estimable track record with such stylish pieces; Oct. 23-Dec. 3.
The Children's Hour—The dreaded specter of lesbianism rears its—pardon—ugly head in Lillian Hellman's ground-breaking 1934 drama. No, it's not about lesbians; it's about a psychologically disturbed schoolgirl who uses insinuations of a lesbian relationship to wreak havoc on the lives of her teachers. The themes—lying, innuendo, defamation and the labyrinthine traps even the young can set—have echoed through many works before and since from The Winslow Boy to The Crucible; TimeLine Theatre Company; Nov. 4-Dec. 12.
Drag—In this original work by Dean Evans, four performers use the glamour ( ? ) of a rip-snortin' drag show—both male and female drag—to explore sexual identity, sexual expression and gender-bending. There's nothin' worse than bad drag, so they have some pretty low standards to live up to. Will they offer a discount to ticket-buyers in drag? Neo-Futurists, Nov. 4-Dec. 9.
Miss Witherspoon—The fifth and final production in this year's unofficial Fall of Durang Festival is this conglomeration of productions by various Off-Loop troupes of the bitingly satirical and dark social comedies of gay, failed Catholic playwright Christopher Durang who, at age 60or so, remains in enfant terrible. This is his newest play, dealing with the Afterlife; Next Theatre Company, Nov. 17-Dec. 17.
Say You Love Satan—The Chicago theatrical debut of comic-book writer and playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, whose tale of the Boyfriend from Hell—literally—takes a jaundiced look at the gay concept of perfection. About Face Theatre at Victory Gardens Greenhouse; Oct. 21-Nov. 19.
Also see online listings of opening dates www.windycitymediagroup.com/theateropenings.html and ongoing shows www.windycitymediagroup.com/theatershowings.html . Look for the **** for special GLBTQ interest.
