It’s Only a Play, at the Bent Theatre.
by Laura Bloom Farber
Theatre lovers will find Terrence McNally’s comedy, It’s Only a Play, now playing at the Bent Theatre, a blast.
Those less well-versed in theatre lore may not get all the jokes and references. The play takes place on the opening night of “The Golden Egg” at an elegant upstairs room at the home of first-time producer Julia Budder, while an opening night party attended by such unseen celebrities as Patti LuPone and Tom Cruise, is taking place on the floor below. The upstairs guests, including playwright Peter Austin, director Sir Frank Finger, leading lady Virginia Noyes, actor James Wicker who turned down a role in the play and critic Ira Drew, assisted by temporary houseman and aspiring actor Gus P. Head, are all nervously awaiting the reviews.
The acting is excellent. Exceptional accolades are earned by Barbara Kerr, as producer Julia Budder, who is determined to keep the play running regardless of the reviews and who delightfully misquotes song lyrics and familiar dialogue, Danielle Kennedy as Virginia Noyes, a former movie star and drug rehab habitue; and Terry Ray, as James Wicker, who suffered a critic comparing his masculinity unfavorably with that of Harvey Fierstein. The remaining cast, Steve Rosenbaum as Peter Austin, Jason Reale as Frank Finger, Jeffrey Norman as Ira Drew, and Justin Ledesma as Gus P. Head, all deliver fine performances. In addition, costume designer Cherlyn Lanning dressed the actors in elaborate outfits that help to define their characters.
It’s Only a Play provides great fun for theatre geeks, and for those who simply enjoy a night out at a funny play.
It's Only A Play will run through December 10 with performances on Saturday, November 25; Sunday, November 26; Thursday, November 30; Friday, December 1; Saturday, December 2; Sunday, December 3; Thursday, December 7; Friday, December 8; Saturday, December 9; and Sunday, December 10. All performances are at 7:00 p.m. except for Sundays, when they take place at 2 p.m. Performances are at the Palm Springs Cultural Center (the Camelot Theaters), 2300 East Baristo Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 (across Baristo Road from Palm Springs High School). Tickets are $40.00 plus a service fee. Purchase tickets at the theatre’s web site, www.thebent.org.
The Bent, which is the Coachella Valley’s only theatre company primarily geared to the interests of the LGBTQ+ community, is a 501(c)(3) organization. Tax-deductible donations may be made online at the web site, or by check to The Bent, c/o 101 Santa Paula St., Palm Springs, CA 92264.
Photos by: Jim Cox
The rest of the offerings during the Bent’s 2023-24 season are:
The New Century, by Paul Rudnick, directed By Stan Zimmerman (February 9-18, 2024). A funny and outrageous comedy that raises questions that aren’t easily answered. Helene Nadler from Long Island, a Jewish mother who has weathered the uniquely varied coming outs of all three of her children (we get to meet her leather slave son); Ellen Diggs, a home-crafts fanatic from Decatur who originally thought the World Trade Center was attacked by people in cheap cotton fabric when she heard they were “muslin” terrorists (but she will tug on your heart when she talks about her late gay son); and Mr. Charles who was run out of Manhattan for being too stereotypically gay and now has a cable access show in Palm Beach where he is billed as “The Gayest Man in the Universe” and his very, very sexy assistant, Shane (who we get to see a WHOLE LOT of) are the delightful characters mixed together for this hysterical night of theater.
The Inheritance (Part One), by Matthew Lopez, directed By Steve Rosenbaum (April 26 - May 12). Decades after the AIDS epidemic, three generations of gay men grapple with the tragedy of their past and what it means for their future. Eric is a New York City lawyer trying to keep his family’s apartment; his boyfriend, Toby is a successful but abrasive writer, living in a state of denial. From there, a web of touching and heartbreaking stories unfold, remembering the dead and calling on the living to keep looking forward. As with Angels In America, this epic story is told in two parts. The Inheritance (Part 2) will be the opening play for The Bent’s 2024-2025 Season.