GEMINI
In other words, back then Gay liberation was warm and fuzzy. You could snuggle up to it. It was cute. And it was really simple. In Innaurato’s time-trapped script, the agonized hero doesn’t have to grapple with anything other than his own sexual discovery. And that revelation comes with some humor, brings some surprising support (even if he doesn’t acknowledge it), and occasions virtually no rejection. Gemini is a sweet coming-of-age story–except that the hero’s queer.
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This is very early, very accommodating gay theater, as the simplicity of its coming-out story shows. The Close Call production is competent, if a little slow at times. Joann D’Angelo, who plays Lucille, is marvelous. Michael Kingston as Fran and Chris Tickner as Francis are also solid. But there are real lapses with the other characters. Carolyn McCusker overacts as Bunny. Ray Brazaski, playing Bunny’s abused genius son, is simply annoying. And Tonya Mayhew and Piotr Plachta as the Hastingses are just awful. Both are nearly expressionless. Mayhew’s timing was off all night, and her interactions with Tickner were embarrassing: he acted her off the stage at every turn.
