Are there positive portrayals of gay Republicans on stage?
Last night, I went to see a straight friend performing in a gay-themed play at West Hollywood’s Celebration Theater and was quite impressed with his performance in particular and the show in general. The play, The Prodigal Father, depicts a strained father-son relationship when the father suffering from Alzheimer’s escapes from his Tennessee nursing home and barges in on his son and his lover in a Chicago loft.
I had this strange thought as I was waiting for the show to begin, perhaps sparked by the poster for Tony Kushner’s Angels in America on one of the set walls. It was almost like wincing, anticipating some anti-Republican barb in the play. It seems standard fare for gay productions. (And I wonder if such portrayals where the playwrights write their own biases into the script help create the dishonest stereotypes which exist in our community.)
This show lacked such barbs, indeed, treated the father’s faith with a degree of respect. But, during the show a thought occurred to me: Has there every been a positive portrayal of a gay Republican on stage?
I don’t know. I’ve never seen one, but do wonder. If you’re aware of such portrayals, let me know, even in plays written for and produced by local (and or community) theaters.
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GPW, have you written a play? Go for it.
Comment by Ignatius — April 26, 2009 @ 10:55 am - April 26, 2009
Edward II in Marlowe’s Edward II
Richard III in Shakespeare’s Richard III
Algernon in Wilde’s Importance of Being Earnest
Lincoln in Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Thoreau in The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail
Dickinson in The Belle of Amherst
Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Karen and Martha in The Children’s Hour
Just off the top of my head. Before Stonewall, most gays were Republicans.
Comment by Ashpenaz — April 26, 2009 @ 11:01 am - April 26, 2009
Hmm. Good question…
Was never a huge fan of live theatre, but two right-thinking gays in film come to mind.
First, would be Nasser from My Beautiful Launderette (1985). Granted, he was sneered at by his boyfriend Daniel Day-Lewis and could be a bit officious at times. But, he was all about settling down, was clearly a savvy small-businessman and held faith and tradition in high regard. A model Thatcherite, I recall having a small crush on his character back in the day.
Second was only a bit part. Parting Glances (1986) was an early Steve Buchemi vehicle. It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but he was at a party with a young, handsome student from Columbia University chatting about the future. I don’t know if the character is even named, but he casually recounts his life plan of monogamy with his pre-med boyfriend. He would work and pay for his friend’s medical schooling, who would then support him once he started working in earnest. Buchemi listens to the whole story and delivers the punch line: “What are you? A f*cking Republican?” I recall cheering in the theatre until friends threw popcorn! For most of my lefty friends at the time, this was the first exposure any of them had to life goals, family plans or any inter-connectedness with the larger community. It was a completely alien worldview. I’m a bit chagrinned that it made them so uncomfortable.
Best wishes,
-MFS
Comment by MFS — April 26, 2009 @ 2:40 pm - April 26, 2009
Not a play, but in the American Dad episode Lincoln Lover, I found the portrayals of gay Republicans to be fairly positive (even if a good amount of humor comes from stereotypes). I sometimes find myself humming the song “We’re Red and We’re Gay” The Episode is currently available on hulu at http://www.hulu.com/watch/67805/american-dad-lincoln-lover#x-0,vepisode,1
Comment by Pink Elephant — April 27, 2009 @ 12:13 am - April 27, 2009
Are there positive portrayals of gay Republicans on stage?
Does there need to be?
Comment by LCRW — April 28, 2009 @ 12:06 am - April 28, 2009