IN HOLLYWOOD IN the 1930s, screen stars did not openly admit homosexuality--not to their fans, not to their studios, not to the husbands so conveniently supplied by the studios, and maybe not even to themselves. The consequences would have been career-ending. Fifty years later in the 1980s, an era when reports of drug addiction and extra-marital affairs were considered nothing more than opportunities for free publicity, movie-goers were still not willing to accept the possibility that the gorgeous starlet or hot hunk they lusted after on the big screen might be gay.
One-In-Ten Theatre Company explores Hollywood's homophobia in its production of Claudia Allen's Movie Queens, a play about two 1930s Hollywood divas who are reunited in the 1980s to perform a Broadway play. Movie Queens is set in the rehearsal hall of the 1980s play, and through a series of flashbacks we glimpse the relationship between Meg Elliot and Adele Montrose, a relationship based on honest love, but torn apart by fear and pretense.
The 1930s Adele is superbly played by Lissa Diaz, whose only flaw is being so good she makes everyone on stage with her look a bit awkward. Tucson audiences might remember Diaz from a.k.a.'s Psycho Beach Party, where she was seen stealing the show as a nerdy bookworm.
Karen Anderson has the difficult task of playing opposite Diaz as the young Meg; and, although a bit rigid in the beginning, she relaxes into the character and succeeds in holding her own. Together, the two offer the finest moments of the play, with a combination of warmth, humor, and sadness.
The play sags, however, each time we return to the 1980s, in spite of a fine performance by Rhonda Hallquist as the older Meg. A combination of mediocre writing and a lifeless performance by Jodina Scazzola as the older Adele, causes the play to plod through the '80s scenes. Fifty or so years after a torrid love affair with a heart-wrenching ending, you might expect (or hope for) some jagged edges of that relationship to resurface.
With limited dialogue to work with--a few jabs, but no consistent sharp-tongued wit to speak of--Hallquist did succeed in drawing us into Meg's life, portraying the remnants of her feelings for Adele, and the sadness of fear winning out over love. But the heated emotions and complexities of the relationship between the young Meg and Adele set up so well by Allen and acted so well by Diaz and Anderson, fizzle in the '80s scenes. Civility prevails. It's nice to be nice, but it's not very exciting. It is also not very believable. We are supposed to understand that after 50 years, the feelings are still strong--strong enough to bring them back together. But there is nothing to convince us of that. We just have to make the leap.
One-In-Ten's production is adeptly directed by Kimberly Lowry, who makes the most of the components she has to work with, and keeps us entertained with good staging and quick movement from present to past and back again.
Many of the funny moments--there are enough of them to carry us through the slumps--are supplied by a good supporting cast. Paul Messina and Vincent Cannon hilariously play Adele's and Meg's public love interests and each other's private lover. Both also play several additional bit parts, likewise as funny.
Carrie Hill portrays Vera, a chain-smoking, 1930s Hollywood starlet hot after Adele, then becomes Adele's maid, Bonita, in the 1980s scenes. She is equally amusing in both roles. Gloria Quintaglie is also good as a 23-year-old lesbian in a singles' bar attempting to pick up the older Meg in one of the play's funniest scenes, a scene that lightly touches on another issue--love and sex at age 65 or 70.
Unfortunately, Movie Queens skims over this issue without much thought, preferring instead to confront only the issue of homophobia and its destructive consequences, a relevant and legitimate issue certainly, but one that seems to permeate gay theatre without leaving much room for anything else. Something new would be refreshing.
One-In-Ten Theatre Company's production of Movie Queens continues with performances Wednesday through Sunday through February 26. Tickets are $9, $8 for students and seniors, available at Antigone Books and at the door. One-In-Ten Theatre is located in the Historic Y Theater, 738 N. Fifth Ave. For more information call 770-9279.
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