Southern Baptist Sissies
Written by Del Shores
Directed by Wayne Shaw
Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln (map)
thru July 1st | tickets: $20-$25 | more info
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More than preaching to the choir
Ludicrous Theatre-Chicago presents
Southern Baptist Sissies
Review by John Olson
As is well known by now, Ludicrous Theatre’s production of this play dealing with fundamentalist Christian beliefs in homosexuality as a sin which can be vanquished by prayer, opened on the same day the largest of the nation’s gay reparative therapy groups announced it was closing its doors. This now-defunct group, Exodus, finally admitted that their methods didn’t work and they were sorry for the emotional harm they did to gay men. Well, most who would attend this play probably already believed in the futility of that approach, but there’s still good stuff to be learned from viewing this play. While many of us who reject the fundamentalist attitude toward homosexuality can do so with detachment and without angst – we may not be southern Baptists ourselves nor be particularly devout in any religion – what about those who love their church and feel at home there in spite of its repressive practices toward gays? Del Shores’ play sneakily and effectively takes us into that world. He begins the piece with a tone of wry, gentle humor and gradually gets us to empathize with the devout Baptists who can’t reconcile their strongly held religious beliefs as taught by their church with the sexual orientations of themselves or their loved ones. Those familiar with playwright Shores’ play/film/TV series Sordid Lives may come into Southern Baptist Sissies expecting a comedy, but this latter play isn’t that.
The non-Equity cast does decent to excellent work, and in spite of the play’s length, director Wayne Shaw wisely has his cast take their time with the lines, giving thoughtful and believably natural performances. Best is Charlie Wein as TJ, who subtly shows the subtext beneath his character’s repressed orientation. Of the two boys who struggle with their orientation, we see and learn more about TJ than Andrew – and Wein’s performance is a big part of the reason this production puts the play’s ideas across. He shows us TJ’s utter determination to reject his gayness and appear and feel straight. He is also part of a quite graphic (yet discreetly staged) sex scene with Mark. J. Keegan Siebken has less stage time as Andrew, but his character becomes crucial toward the end of the play and Siebken brings the play to its emotional climax most effectively. As narrator Mark, Kirk Jackson has the cockiness the character requires, but as is so often the case with autobiographical narrators, the playwrights don’t seem to provide the same level of nuance and objectivity as they achieve with the other characters. As a result, Jackson doesn’t have as much to play with as do Wein and Siebken. Bryan Schmiderer does fine as the effeminate and kind drag queen.
J. Lance Williams plays the church’s pastor believably right down the middle – neither comic nor villainous. Suzanne Bracken has three roles as the mothers of Mark, Andrew and Benny (TJ’s mom is dead). Her characters range from ditzy trailer trash to sincere and hard working, yet she gives them all humanity as they turn to the pastor for advice when realizing their sons are different from other boys. Catherine Thomas and Michael Pacas initially provide us with some comic relief as the barflies, but surprisingly pack some punch when we learn more about their pasts toward the play’s end. Pacas’ role, Peanut, was first played by TV star Leslie Jordan, and while Pacas is no Jordan (who could be, really?) he delivers Peanut’s last scene – dramatic and touching – with complete conviction.
The sets and costumes (by Shaw and Bracken, respectively) are simple and low budget, but do the job. At nearly two and a half hours, Southern Baptist Sissies tries one’s patience a bit, but it ultimately gives worthwhile insight into a segment of American gay life and a look at some promising young Chicago actors.
Rating: ★★½
Southern Baptist Sissies continues through July 1st at Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln (map), with performances Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, with an additional 8pm performance on Monday, July 1. Tickets are $20-$25, and are available by phone (773-404-7336) or online through GreenhouseTheater.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at LudicrousTheatre.com. (Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes, includes an intermission)
artists
cast
Kirk Jackson (Mark), Charlie Wein (TJ), J. Keegan Siebken (Andrew), Bryan Schmiderer (Benny), J. Lance Williams (Preacher), Suzanne Bracken (Mother), Catherine Thomson (Odette), Michael Pacas (Peanut), Michael Barr (Brother Chaffey/Houston)
behind the scenes
Wayne Shaw (director, set design), James Kassabian (technical director, lighting design), Suzanne Bracken (costume design).
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