The Bent’s “The New Century” provides plenty of laughs and some food forthought
by Laura Bloom Farber
The New Century is a hilarious comedy at the Bent that explores gay life in the twenty-first century in a mostly comic manner with plenty of laugh lines, but that also raises some deeper issues. Written by Paul Rudnick, the play consists of four scenes performed without intermission: three extended monologues by three different characters and a fourth scene in which all three (plus two additional characters introduced in the second monologue) meet in a Manhattan maternity ward.
The first monologue, titled “Pride and Joy” is excellently performed by Adina Lawson playing Helene Nadler, the quintessential Long Island Jewish mother. While identifying herself as “the most loving mother of all times,” she tells the coming out stories of all three of her adult children.
The second scene, titled “Mr. Charles, Currently of Palm Beach”, is an episode of Mr. Charles’ cable access show which explores the classic gay stereotype and features Terry Ray, broadly and brilliantly portraying Mr. Charles, who identifies himself as “the gayest man in the universe.”
In the third scene, titled “Crafty”, Sonia Reavis assumes the role of Barbara Ellen Diggs, a Decatur, Illinois mom, who has lost her gay son to AIDS. She carries on by creating such crafts as crocheted toilet paper roll hats, doorknob covers, and toaster tuxedos, among other items. She plays her role with great humor as well as pathos.
The smaller roles are also well played, by Alex Price, as Mr. Charles’ young, good-looking protégé, Sean, and by Shelby Victoria as Joann, the cable show receptionist and new mother. Stan Zimmerman has directed the play with skill, evoking good pacing from his actors. Cherlyn Lanning has created costumes that demonstrate and enhance the characters, especially the gloriously flamboyant outfits for Mr. Charles. One major warning about the play is in order: Alex Price briefly appears fully nude, facing the audience; this is DEFINITELY an R-rated play.
The New Century has tickets available for four more performances, on Thursday, February 15th through Saturday, February 17th, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, February 18th, 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 start at $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.
photo credit Jim Cox
The remaining offering of the Bent’s 2023-24 season is 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.