The very talented director Richard Israel has another hit on his hands in the West Coast premiere of Brian Christopher Williams' Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins at the West Coast Ensemble. I wish I could say that the play is dated, for after all, Anita Bryant’s campaign against equality for gays was news in 1977. Sad to say, prejudice against gays, and not just against gay marriage, is still among us. Only this week a Southern preacher announced that he was praying every night for the annihilation of gay Americans.
One of the wonderful things about Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins is that it is really the deeply personal story of a young boy/man, 15–year-old Horace Poore, as he struggles to find his sexual identity. His hormones are telling him one thing, as he becomes obsessed with Olympic swimmer Marc Spitz and later with his dreamy junior high gym teacher (who just happens to look remarkably like Spitz). On the other hand, he must deal with his family's homophobia, and the daily discussion of gay rights on television spurred on by Anita Bryant's campaign.
His brother is a Vietnam-era draft dodger who brings on the wrath of his family, including Horace, for deserting his country and his family. But when he returns home, his courage in the face of such withering criticism becomes the inspiration for Horace to out himself.
The play has lots of twists and turns; it is not just another coming-out saga, but a complex study of the dilemma the boy faces when emotions and motives aren't so simple. He's beautifully realized by Wyatt Fenner. Others in the cast include Nick Ballard as the hunky gym teacher, Nick Niven as the intense, draft-dodging brother, and as the rough-hewn but very real parents, Tony Pandolfo and the wonderful Jan Sheldrick. The cast also includes versatile Sean Owens, Madelynn Fattibene as Anita Bryant, and Sara J. Stuckey as Agnes, the mentally challenged girl who lives across the street and figures prominently in the action.
Playwright Williams has a real ability with words. At times his writing reminded me of Tennessee Williams by way of Neil Simon: poetic and hilarious. Lisa D. Katz provides the moody lighting. Stephen Gilford gives us a marvelous stage with lots of playing areas. But it is Richard Israel who made all of it work, from the extremely funny scenes and one-liners to the characters' poignant dilemmas. This is a top-notch production that deserves an audience and will be prominent in award season. Go see it.
Anita Bryant Died For Your Sins plays at the El Centro Theatre until Oct 4th with probable extensions.
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