Alternative Theatre Company's Dirty Secrets at On The Spot Theatre
(out of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
Reviewed 6/17/99
(out of )Alternative Theatre Company has resurfaced after a lengthy slumber. Co-founder Joe Marshall has brought the Gay-themed theatre troupe awake by starring in a drama of his own creation, Dirty Secrets. Directed by talented actor Matthew Cary, he and Mr. Marshall have woven together a homosexual soap opera that, if two women replace the male characters fighting over the affections of the central man, would be either snored through or chided for its lack of depth, clunky and unsubtle dialogue, and basic writing faux pas. With this tête a tête a tête occurring between three men, though, Mr. Marshall seems to be searching for a new level, and hoping the homosexual element will flesh out what he has not been able to create through his characterizations, dialogue and subtext. The simple fact is, this script is a ten-percenters Peyton Place, and the production is made all the worse by the horrendous acting of two of the three leads.
Set in present day Manhattan, Nick and Shane seem to be the idyllic lovers. Nick is hard working, obviously in love with Shane, and a solid fellow. Shane is younger, more attractive, and the perfect pretty boy for Nick to grow old with. In stumbles Tom, a bisexual whose lover, Carl, has broken his heart by having an affair. Tom has a thing for Nick, and Shane has some explaining to do. After some fairly innocuous (and often unbelievable or inexplicable) twists, the question of true love versus revenge is studied. Finally Tom, for some unknown reason other than the playwright's lack of experience, breaks the fourth wall in the waning moments of the play and lectures the audience, in case they didn't get what it was the author intended. Subjects, such as Tom's bisexuality, and a strange offer that is completely unbelievable based on the character from whence it has come, are tossed and dropped. Character motivations are murky at best, if not outright contradictory or random. Ultimately, the current draft of the script is nothing more than an evening from "Alternative Romance Classics."
While Mr. Marshall does have some slight potential to turn this play into something worth watching, the same cannot be said for his performance. Often confusing is his portrayal of the interloping character, who we're never sure we should side with or against. He and Mr. Cary have made him a strong-armed Guido who can gently run his fingers through someone's hair after having threatened to rape another man mere moments before. He rarely offers a real emotion, and is quick to contradict the few that do occasionally surface. Ironically, as bad as this portrayal is, it's not anywhere near as bad as another of the trio.
John Mabey gives a rather pathetic staged reading of the role of Shane. Besides not quite cutting it as a twenty-something hotty, he recites his lines in a painful way that maliciously beats down any sense of believability. Mr. Mabey rarely listens to his other performers, and sometimes seems as if he can't believe the words coming from his own mouth. The only saving grace is that he's occasionally inaudible, an impressive feat in the tiny theatre.
One can only be sorry for the talented John Haubner. Mr. Haubner has some real acting ability, and wrestles valiantly with his two-dimensional, perfect dream-date of a character. Ultimately, there's nothing wrong with Nick, and Mr. Haubner cannot avoid the pitfall of being too perfect to be true.
Mr. Cary's direction is technically solid, even as his casting choices are suspect. There may be little impressive staging, but everything works on its feet, even as its voice falters.
The most impressive thing of the evening is the technical element. Mike Nowak's set design is the best yet in the On The Spot space. John Hughes' light and sound design is very good, and Debbie Johnson's costumes work well.
Perhaps, with a lot of dramaturgical help, many rewrites, and a cast that can do it justice after these revisions, this could be a solid work. Unfortunately, what struts the boards at On The Spot is not ready for prime time. One only hopes that Alternative Theatre Company can offer a presentation again sometime soon that will rectify the general lack of a consistent homosexual voice in valley theatres.
Production Details:
Dirty Secrets by Joe Marshall
Alternative Theatre Company
On The Spot Theatre, Phoenix
(623) 934-0979
June 4 - June 27, 1999