“Coming Attractions”: Characters, Costumes, and Clever
Writing Win Me Over
Words by Kristen Fogle
“Coming Attractions,” which was featured in 2010 as a part
of Moxie’s play festival “Fighting Words,” finishes off their sixth season; the
play features a colorful cast of characters and a zany plot which takes place
at the Desert Knight Hotel—the destination of the ‘Twilight’ set and, even more
interesting, was the place where
closeted stars could do what they do, away from studio execs and press.
These characters include a deceased real estate agent to the
stars, Dee Dee Windom (owner of the Desert Knight—and the reason everyone has
gathered); her former lover, the has-been-but-ever-as-glam icy narcissist
Veronica Scott (Scotty to some); Dee Dee’s lover at the time of her death Pat
MacKenna; Dee Dee’s woman in charge at the Knight (and also lover of Pat) Dani
Decker; Morris Gordon, once a Hollywood muckety-muck turned grocery chain
owner; his much younger lover, the gold lamé wearing, incessant pill popper Donovan Tate; and
lastly, the 20-year-old butchy lez Rebecca Metz, Becks, who is obsessed with
the movies, and hence comes looking to see history at the Knight.
The plot mostly involves funny chatter played out by a
clever cast, but highlights include Donovan’s visits by Anita Bryant (a result
of too many Quaaludes and gin) as well as the deceased Dee Dee (who reveals
some very interesting aspects about the afterlife—and meets quite a few famous
people while she’s up there); there is also the question of why Morris takes in
“strays” like Donovan (young, wayward youths) in the first place. Then, there
is Becks’ “involvement” with Veronica (who sees a picture of herself she likes
in Becks’ starstruck eyes)…the sordid history between Dee Dee and Veronica…and
of course, the question of who gets the Knight in the will.
Jill Drexler’s Dee Dee is the center of the action, so we’ll
start there: her sage advice and strong willed nature make Dee a force to be
reckoned with—even in death! The other vision of Donovan’s is Anita Bryant and
Samantha Ginn’s quirky version of her breathes new life into the stuffy, and
thus, almost always stereotyped Bryant. The owner of said visions, Donovan, is
played with considerable affected apathy by the droll Benjamin Cole (who bears
considerable resemblance to Austin Scarlett of “Project Runway” fame). Amanda
Morrow, in addition to being an ensemble member with New Village Arts is
co-owner of one of the best coffee houses in SD, Panniken La Jolla, and nails
the likable, explorative dreamer Rebecca Metz. M’Lafi Thompson plays an
excellent matriarch (she was unbelievable as Mama in Moxie’s production of “A Raisin
in the Sun”); also recently seen at Moxie are Robin Christ and Mark Petrich,
who are a long way from the roles they recently played in “A Man, A Wife, and
His Hat.” There is some of the tortured relationship between Christ’s bitter
Veronica and Petrich’s softy Morris, but it is not the embittered battle that
was Man and Wife’s in their previous show. Mostly, Veronica and Morris are
caricatures, sometimes granted with wonderfully deep dialogue, but mostly just
good fun to watch comedically.
That’s the thing with “Coming Attractions.” Zsa Zsa
Gershick’s work contains some beautiful moments, but overall, these can’t help
but take a back seat to the quirky playfulness that the production exudes. The
set is of a cheery, but not over the top yellow and blue (scenic design by
Angelica Ynfante), allowing Jeannie Galioto’s costuming to reign supreme here. And
fun gay anthems dominate between scenes, at intermission, and before and after
the show (“In the Navy” is one of
them, btw).
So come for the queer, stay for the cheer, is what I say.
Because as deep as Gershick wants to get, one can’t completely wax
philosophical in a brightly colored caftan or six inch stilettos (Donovan’s
stilettos that is). The fun and frolic is what makes “Coming Attractions” a hip
addition to the modern comedy circuit, and I can’t wait to see productions of
it done elsewhere.
If Moxie’s season ending causes frown lines to appear, don’t
distress. On June 11 they announced their new season, and it seems full of
promise. Season Eight, dubbed “Home of the Brave” will examine American
characters, stories of greed, sacrifice and sexual desire in the pursuit of
life, liberty, and happiness. Next up is “The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek,”
running September 29-October 28.
“Coming Attractions”
5/25-7/1
Moxie Theatre
6663 El Cajon Blvd.
San Diego, 92115
858-598-7620
www.moxietheatre.com
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