STOCKADE

STOCKADE – Written by Andrew Rosendorf with Carlyn Aquiline; Directed by Christy Montour-Larson.  Produced by Local Theatre Company (Presented at the Dairy Center, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder) through October 13.  Tickets available at office@thedairy.org

A group of gay WWII veterans have been invited to a weekend reunion by the sister of one of the group who did not make it home.  She had found a satchel of letters he had received from all of them when the service had separated them.  Her intention is to publish them in a biography of her twin brother.  As the script is set in the era of the McCarthy investigations, this is not good news for any of them.  She has no idea what the exposure of their sexuality could do to them – wreck careers, initiate prison sentences as perverts and security risks, destroy marriages, and demolish hopes and dreams. 

The group consists of a closeted rocket scientist; a lesbian communist, a closeted married gay man who works for the government; a potential drag queen and one more pretty far out (of the closet) gay man.  A potpourri of perversity in the eyes of the all-seeing FBI of the day.  Barb, the twin sister to Billy who died under unexplainable circumstances, represents the accepting but unschooled straight population.  She only wants to honor the brother that she loves.  The others loved him too, but their personal fears outweigh their desire to pay homage to their heroic friend.  As those letters reflect their real feelings and desires, they know firsthand the personal danger that exposure could lead to.  One of their number has already spent time in prison because of being found out. 

The cast takes this story to task and brings heartfelt portrayals of this group of people to life.  Their camaraderie and obvious affection for each other, their familiarity with their history, their acknowledgement of the on-going difficulty of the life they are forced to live – all ring true in their personal gift to the playwright.  Yet within this group lurks a traitor and a person who could create chaos for the whole gathering.  Simone St. John takes on a surprising dual role with ease and gives us additional insight into the sweet kind brother she lost.  Alex Gould’s cries from inside his prison cell break your heart.  Lisa Hori-Garcia is a feisty outspoken rebel who must still back away from exposure.  Jacob Sorling sadly plays a man in double jeopardy.  He has both a job and a marriage that he wants to keep.  Rakeem Lawrence is a shy (sort of) would-be drag queen in homage to the likes of Eartha Kitt and Lena Horne.  And Thadd Krueger is a pitiful man caught in a no-win situation until he finds his strength.  He gives us the most powerful three minutes at the end of the play that this viewer has seen in a long time. 

The memories of Billy prove him to be the personal and war hero he was to all his comrades.  He was a mentor, a therapist, understanding, kind, the person you could take your problems to . . . in other words, a true friend to them all. They counted on him and leaned on him. It’s no wonder they revere him and that it’s so hard to give up on the idea of honoring him. 

It seems to be more acceptable and a little easier to live a gay life today. After all, gay men and women have taken notable roles in government, entertainment, and all phases of modern life.  In that respect, the story may seem dated and redundant.  But a conversation with a young person set me straight on the importance of honoring those who came before.  “I didn’t know it was like this.  This play opened my eyes to what people went through so that I could live my open life.”  So even though it delves into a history (hopefully) long gone, it also brings back the specter of what could come again if we don’t keep hold of these hard-fought-for advances. 

A special pat on the back to the unknown person who makes the dramatic final scene so touching night after night.  See the play and you’ll know what I mean. 

A WOW factor of 8.25!! 

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