“Torch Song Trilogy” by Harvey Fierstein premiered in New York in 1982. It consisted of three shorter plays performed in three acts. It revolved around Arnold Beckoff, a Jewish drag queen and torch singer in New York City. It was four hours long. In 2018, Fierstein revised the play, cutting it to 2:45. 1812 Productions is presenting this dramatic comedy about a man seeking love and connections in a humorous but very poignant manner.
It is the 1970’s, and Arnold Beckoff (Jamison Stern) is hoping and struggling to meet the man of his dreams. He finds anonymous sex in the back room a place called International Stud, to pass the time, until he meets Ed (Gregory Isaac). A relationship ensues, but Ed is conflicted, He is bisexual, and is hiding it from the woman in his life, whereas Arnold is not.
Though Arnold dresses in drag to perform, he is not presented to us in a stereotypical manner, but rather as just another guy who wants to find love. It is a complex play as he is also dealing with his Jewish mother’s disapproval for not only his life style, but his entire life.
Fierstein asks many questions that anyone in a relationship might ask- “Do I love him enough” and “What rights do you have when you love someone?” And at what point do you actually say, “I love you.”
This play is also about friendship. What boundaries dare we cross in a friendship? Can two people who have been lovers move on and become friends?
Then, there is the mother, Mrs. Beckoff (Grace Gonglewski). While Fierstein gives her lots of comic lines, the relationship between mother and son is complicated and effects Arnold greatly.
And there is more. We meet Ed’s woman, Laurel (Karen Peake), who, as she learns of what is going on with her man, tries to figure out her own next move. We also meet David (Elliott Colahan) in the second act. He is a misfitting gay teenager who Arnold seeks to help. There are many complicated situations expressed with both humor and gravity. Arnold is only one of the many here who seek love.
This profound piece of literary art, expertly directed by Bill Fennelly, is beautiful and will most definitely be around for another 40 years. Don’t wait. See it now.
“Torch Song” by Harvey Fierstein, 1812 Productions, at Players and Players Theater, 1714 Delancey, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 215-592-9560, info@1812 productions.org Thru May 19, 2024
Philadelphia Theater Reviews by Frank Burd 